New Advisory Group To Help Guide Destination Marlborough

Friday, 12 September 2025, 3:45 pm
Article: Kira Carrington - Local Democracy Reporter

For any members of Marlborough’s tourism industry worried about their voice being lost in the under-new-management Destination Marlborough, the council says: never fear. 

The Marlborough District Council said in a statement on Wednesday that its newly established advisory group, made up partially by industry members, would guide the regional tourism organisation in the right direction. 

Destination Marlborough general manager Tracey Green said the purpose of the Marlborough Destination Advisory Group (MDAG) was to “grow, connect and champion a sustainable Marlborough visitation sector”. 

The group would “ensure that our sector’s voice is at the forefront of our decision-making”, she said.

“It will support the prioritisation of the Marlborough Destination Management Plan and help guide us on this journey.” 

The advisory group would be made up of four council appointees with industry experience and three Marlborough tourism operators, nominated by the local industry and selected by an appointments committee, the council said. 

Green told the council last week that tourism operators outside the advisory group would receive updates from the group three times a year. 

“We also have an email which goes out fortnightly,” she said. 

Council strategic management manager Neil Henry said the advisory group was a key outcome of the Destination Marlborough Future Path Project. 

It was under this project that the previously independent Destination Marlborough transitioned to an in-house unit of the council in July.

“Council retains responsibility over the day-to-day operations of Destination Marlborough, staffing and financial decision making with key policy and financial decisions being made by council through the usual processes,” Henry said.

“However, one of the key recommendations of the review was that an advisory group be established to enable visitor industry representation input on the key activities of Destination Marlborough.” 

That transition to an in-house unit came about two years after the organisation’s entire board resigned over an employment dispute with a former general manager in late 2023. 

Green, who was appointed interim general manager, oversaw the transition before assuming the role permanently. 

The council said expressions of interest would open on October 1 for the industry tourism operators nominated by local industry. The advisory group was expected to commence work early next year. 

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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