Resource Community Formation & Change: A Case Study of METHVEN

Little, H. M. & Taylor, N.

Taylor Baines & Associates

2000

Taylor Baines & Associates

www.tba.co.nz

Part of a TBA Research Project, outlined here.

This paper reports the findings of a case study of Methven, mid-Canterbury. It is one of a series of three case studies of tourism communities in New Zealand that are part of a project entitled “Resource Community Formation and Change” which has been funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. The other case studies of tourism communities in this series are Te Anau (WP 27) and Paihia (WP 29). The Methven case study was selected because of the development there of a winter tourism industry, based on snow sports, in a traditional farming economy. This report provides findings relating to the economic and social impact of tourism, but not exclusively snow tourism, on this traditionally agricultural district.

A variety of research methods were used in this case study, which primarily focuses on the economic and social history of Methven since the early 1970’s and tracked the development of the snow industry and allied hospitality and tourism ventures. Consideration was also given to the continued development of cropping and arable farming in the district in particular at those points where the two industries transect, particularly in relation to employment. These research methods included an analysis of census statistics, a review of published documents describing the social and economic condition of the district and six days of interviews with farming families, community leaders, local business people (retail, commercial and agricultural), school principals, tourism entrepreneurs, ski field management and local government officers. A small number of telephone interviews were also carried out; this form of interview was only used to gather specific information. Generally interviews were prearranged although a number of informal interviews were carried out with business operators, primarily in the retail sector.

The work provides a stronger conceptual and empirical basis for social assessment and resource planning in New Zealand, especially in rural communities that depend directly on the primary production or processing of natural resources. The findings from the analysis of the three communities in the tourism sector will be added to those from communities based on the forestry, mining, agriculture, energy and fishing sectors, to develop an improved understanding of the processes of community formation and change in these types of resource communities.

Keywords:

Tourism management, Tourism, Tourism communities, New Zealand, Methven

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Case study

Canterbury

Outdoor Recreation, Recreation

Tourists

Other setting, Outdoors

National Parks, Travel and Transport

Barriers, Benefits, Impacts - economic, Impacts - environmental, Impacts- social, Participation, Tourism

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July 11, 2012