Prime Minister John Key opens new luge track at Skyline Skyrides in 2009. PHOTO/FILE
Prime Minister John Key opens new luge track at Skyline Skyrides in 2009. PHOTO/FILE
Rotorua, in particular its tourism industry, has benefited from John Key's time in charge of the country, according to a city business leader.
Rotorua Chamber of Commerce interim chief executive Allison Lawton said from a tourism perspective the city had done well in the time Mr Key had been in charge.
Mr Key, who is also the Tourism Minister, announced his resignation today, citing family reasons.
Mrs Lawton said she was "shocked, like everybody else" at the news.
"I wasn't expecting it, I am still digesting it to be honest."
She said under his leadership New Zealand had seen growth in GDP and had recovered well after the global financial crisis.
She said while there would now be some uncertainty, Mr Key had assembled a strong team, including Bill English and Steven Joyce. That should ensure continuity and confidence for the business community, she said.
Allison Lawton, interim chief executive Rotorua Chamber of Commerce. PHOTO/FILE
Mrs Lawton said the resignation was good news for the other parties, ahead of next year's election.
"John Key was so popular, he really had a strong hold. He was such a charismatic personality," she said.
"It will be interesting to see how the other leaders position themselves."
She said she hoped Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett would step up and take on the minister role as she was passionate about tourism and would be a safe pair of hands.
Destination Rotorua chief executive Michelle Templer said she too was surprised by the resignation.
"John Key has been a great advocate for the visitor industry and has helped to raise the profile of New Zealand tourism and business internationally.
"Strategically having the Prime Minister as Minister of Tourism has been beneficial, however with tourism now New Zealand's biggest export I am confident that his successor will remain a cabinet minister who will continue to provide this industry with the priority it deserves."
She said during Mr Key's time in charge Rotorua operators had benefited from grants through the Government's Tourism Growth Partnership.
"And as host of New Zealand's biggest tourism showcase TRENZ, Rotorua has welcomed Mr Key to our city for the past two years. Perhaps he will now have more free time so we hope that he will continue to visit and enjoy everything that Rotorua has to offer."
Skyline Rotorua general manager Bruce Thomasen acknowledged the work Mr Key had done for the tourism industry.
"He really made a difference, the industry has never been stronger," he said. "The National government has been strong partners."
He said having the Prime Minister as the Tourism Minister had had a huge impact on the level of recognition given to the industry.
"It elevated tourism up to areas of the government that we previously hadn't been able to get that message across."
He said that helped the whole industry, of which Rotorua was a component.
"Tourism is recognised very much now by the government and opposition... [they] understand the export dollars and job creation it brings."
He said Mr Key and the National government had supported many Rotorua operators and events in the past, including Crankworx, Skyline and the night lights at the Redwoods Treewalk.
Mr Thomasen said it was too early to comment on how or if anything would change and he would wait to see who the new minister for tourism would be.
