Talking business for 4 November Marlborough Express: The new Maori tourism business on six acres of privately owned land on Queen Charlotte drive will create a demand for services in nearby Havelock and beyond.  Co-owners of the Shark Nett company’s gallery and allied attractions, Michael and Lynette Bradley, drawing from a consultant’s report by Moran Tourism Group, understand that 700,000 tourists travel past their entrance at 129 Queen Charlotte Drive annually. Dr Dominic Moran, former ceo of Destination Marlborough told the co-owners there are 1.7 million tourists travelling from Havelock to Nelson and 1.2 million from Havelock to Blenheim -  – 40% of whom are from overseas.

Pacific Journeys’ Julian Barton is in talks with the Bradleys, who want to formalise business arrangements for cruise ship passengers that berth in Picton to visit the Shark Nett gallery.  Bus groups of 100 people a day or more, are a possibility.

The Bradleys also want to service the top end of the tourist market - and are in talks with several helicopter companies.  Civil Aviation Authority gave the green light in April 2009 to a heliport on their property. “We have been forming a business alliance with Andrew Gillatt of Tasman Helicopters, to ensure that a helicopter is on location for this tourist visitor season at Shark Nett” the Bradleys say.

Shark Nett is also considering wine promotion and tasting once their cafe and wine tasting bar are completed.  The Bradleys have had preliminary discussions with Tohu Wines, a Whakatu Maori incorporation business, and are also considering a further approach to Kono Wine.

Michael Bradley, who ended his period as chairman of Rangitane around 1995, wants to foster an understanding of the local tribe’s connection to 1000 years of history in Marlborough, which too many people know little about. 

In the Dedication to their “Marlborough Cultural experience at Havelock” the Shark Nett gallery says “These carvings are to replace the ones lost, stolen, burnt, taken by Tribal Invasion, confiscated by Early Explorers for Museums & Artefact Hunters, from Rangitane.”

Twenty years of carving has been drawn together to create the large private art collection.  Now they provide a pay to view gallery. Every carving has a story – and local schools as well as other visitors come to see the collection.

Building buildings was the easy part – now we face the hard part of building a business says Michael Bradley.  He says their market is Western, Australian and Asian tourists.  We have invested land, buildings and art to the value of approximately $4 million – no iwi money or handouts have been received, Mr Bradley says.

Shark Nett talks of plans linked to them for reclamations, walking tracks, kayaking, trout fishing, fishing charters, horse rides, waka display, bird watching and whale bone carving.

DecisionMaker asked the Bradleys what they wanted of Marlborough.

Business does not develop overnight, Mr Bradley notes. He wants Havelock to be known as a destination. 
Mr Bradley speaks positively of Havelock’s ward councillor on the MDC, Cr Barsanti, and of Havelock advocates.
He sees political issues looming and Havelock residents rising to the challenge of being more vocal about their town’s future.

He describes Havelock as a large marine farming village where corporates don’t want to invest because there is no premium space available. “The town is impacted by historical ad hoc design decisions.”

Earlier, Havelock had not thought about us, he says.  “It took 30 years to close a local road side rubbish dump at the entrance to our property.”  MDC is dragging the chain when it comes to creating a bus turning point and widening the road servicing the Bradley’s place as promised in their resource consent Mr Bradleuy says.
Havelock has a low ratepayer base that ultimately affects its political clout. 

He says the wealth of the Sanford and Talley’s mussel operations, and from Port Marlborough’s Havelock facility, goes from the area.

“Return the mussel dividend to Havelock” he says.

Havelock’s main street has insufficient parking for the many people who could stop instead of passing through. “All those campervans go through because there is no net to catch them”.

Port Marlborough’s infrastructure prevents swimming and picnics he says while Shark Nett aims to provide a beached area for high tide swimming, picnic and barbeque for their clientele.

“Port Marlborough annexed Maori customary property” that was also local community property, and has provided a major facility - but the financial returns to the community are minimal.”

He is throwing his weight behind Havelock efforts to attract the mussel museum there – and to resist those who prefer it to be in Blenheim’s Brayshaw Park.

“The MDC is supportive on compliance issues but lacks commitment and is passive in assisting Maori art, culture and heritage, historically and nowadays.  They resist and defer requests to sponsor Shark Nett gallery so that we can open our doors free to the public instead of charging an admission fee.  We note that they fund the Millennium gallery, Brayshaw park and all the museums of Marlborough and other clubs and organisations that promote art, culture and heritage” the Bradleys told DecisionMaker. 

By Anthony Haas, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it