Creating strong career pathways and better work experiences to support Queenstown Lakes’ future.
Queenstown Lakes is world-renowned for its natural beauty, andits long-term future depends on people. The Thriving Workforce Programme,outlined in the Destination Management Plan, sets the ambition for a skilled and resilient workforce to support both the visitor economy and local communities. That ambition is now being brought to life through Mahi Queenstown Lakes, a collaborative initiative working to attract, retain and support talented workers across the district.
Mahi Queenstown Lakes in Action
Mahi Queenstown Lakes (MahiQL) is a collaboration led by theQueenstown Business Chamber of Commerce with partners including Destination Queenstown, Lake Wānaka Tourism, Ignite Wānaka, MBIE, and Queenstown Lakes District Council. The programme seeks to ensure local tourism and hospitality businesses have access to skilled and committed people, while also creating anenvironment where workers want to stay and grow. To achieve this, MahiQL has developed the Queenstown Lakes Workforce Strategy 2024–2027, which sets a vision to make the district the best place in the world to live, work, play and do business, where the workforce and business community thrive together. This work acknowledges that while wage growth in the district has outpaced the national average, other barriers such as housing shortages, access to services, and the seasonal nature of work remain a challenge. MahiQL is addressing this by focusing on long-term solutions that go beyond pay, strengthening community connection, creating clearer career pathways, and improving the overall quality of the work experience.
Progress and Outputs
MahiQL, delivered in partnership with the local Chambers of Commerce, has already delivered significant outputs that reflect the DMP’s workforce vision. The Learn Queenstown Lakes workstream, funded by QLDC, piloted the Actvo skills-mapping tool across a range of businesses. This provided valuable data on workforce capability and training needs, highlighting gaps indigital literacy, cultural awareness and sustainability practices.
Employers across the district took part, contributing insights into both employer and employee experiences. The project also produced a district-wide Learning and Development Supplier Schedule, now available on the Queenstown Business Chamber website, creating a practical resource for businesses seeking training support.
At the same time, MahiQL has convened employer and employee focus groups to ensure real-life experiences inform the strategy. The data being collected, including labour market snapshots, continues to shed light on the challenges businesses face - particularly around housing and seasonality - while also pointing towards solutions that extend beyond wages alone.
Why This Matters
Workforce availability remains a key concern for Queenstown Lakes.. Wage growth in the district has been strong, but rising housing costs and limited accommodation supply have made it difficult to attract and retain workers. MahiQL’s work acknowledges that pay is only part of the solution: what matters just as much is the quality of the worker experience, the sense of belonging in the community, and the availability of pathways for personal and professional growth.
The objectives of this action also align closely with workbeing done through the QLDC Welcoming Communities plan. By creating opportunities for workers to feel welcomed, supported, and connected, the Thriving Workforce Programme moves closer to its goal of making Queenstown Lakes not just a place to visit, but a place to live and thrive.
How This Supports the DMP Vision
The Thriving Workforce Programme, delivered through MahiQueenstown Lakes, is a cornerstone of the Destination Management Plan’s broadervision of “Travel to a Thriving Future”. It links directly to projects focused on capability building, workforce development, and welcoming communities, ensuring the tourism sector strengthens local wellbeing as much as it serves visitors.
A thriving workforce is essential for regenerative tourism. It enables businesses to deliver exceptional visitor experiences while ensuring that residents see real benefits from the visitor economy. Community members, businesses, and workers all have a role to play. Those in the tourism and visitor economy can engage with upcoming MahiQL forums and make use of the LearnQueenstown Lakes resources.
If you have any questions, feedback, or comments, pleasereach out through the contact form or reach out to the Queenstown Business Chamber.
