As well as making it awkward for residents to figure out which rugby team to support, this also makes it difficult to promote as a tourist destination, with the district’s treasures often being filed under “South Canterbury”, “North Otago” or “Central Otago” – or worse, being mistaken for another district.
“Recently there was an article printed in Australia which had [Ōmārama’s] Clay Cliffs and Hot Tubs as part of Mackenzie, which is not right,” Munro says.
Brook Sabin/Stuff
The famous hot tubs at Ōmārama.
“When visitors come, they’ll look them up in ‘Mackenzie’ and won’t be able to find them there – because they’re not part of that district. It’s misleading information to the people that have got a genuine interest in finding out more.”