Yet rapid growth can bring pain and paint a somewhat different picture. Concerns over planning and sustainability arise — particularly if the spoils are unequally shared and the stability of society threatened.
The Queenstown area is undoubtedly booming — but is also experiencing severe growing pains. More and more people are choosing to live and work in what is one of the most picturesque spots in the country (if not the world), and more still are flocking to visit.
The dramatic increase in both has contributed to a housing crisis, now rivalling that of Auckland.
While many long-term home owners, landlords and investors are benefiting, those priced out of the market demonstrably are not.
The flow-on effects are now evident in schools, too.
Queenstown’s two newest schools are facing unprecedented roll growth.
Shotover Primary School and Remarkables Primary School have grown five-fold and 10-fold, to rolls of 425 and 620 respectively, in relatively short periods of time and are now playing something of a game of musical chairs keeping up with teaching space, while chasing funding for the next round of capital works.
Growth in school rolls is an exciting positive indicator. Children are the future, and an area with a healthy surge of young families is pleasing — particularly given New Zealand’s low birth rate and ageing society.
But, as well as the issue of housing a growing number of pupils, Queenstown schools are struggling to recruit and retain permanent teachers, relieving teachers and support staff, given the rapid roll growth and district’s high living costs.
Principals say the problem will only worsen as long as they have to pay staff at the same rate as elsewhere. The principals say they have attempted to get government assistance but to no avail and say they are expecting "challenges" and "struggles" in the next few years.
It is frustrating, particularly given the fact the Government has been paying bonuses to teachers in low-decile Auckland schools to help entice staff to them. It is now promising to roll out the bonuses to all newly qualified Auckland teachers to compensate for the high accommodation costs across the city.
The flow-on effects of Auckland’s housing crisis and our tourism push have been evident for some time. It is frustrating the teaching bonuses do not apply elsewhere where they are obviously required, as well. It is to be hoped, given the vast number of pre-election sweeteners being offered each day, that can be remedied, because help, clearly, cannot come soon enough.
The housing crisis has already pressured the service and hospitality sectors around Queenstown. Employment opportunities abound, but that is of no use if workers cannot afford to live in or near to the place where they work — and in decent accommodation that does not make them sick or bankrupt.
It is vital children receive the benefits of good-quality teaching staff, who can afford to put down roots in their community and who offer stability and commitment to their young charges.
