Left Auckland near 40 years ago and now living in Central Otago, so unable to help you with recent comment about Tuakau Luigi.....but I thought maybe how we promote Central could help.
What seems to be most successful is to identify a couple of seriously successful 'happenings' and milk them for all they are worth. Down here the three seem to be the adventure tourism activities based mainly out of Queenstown; our wine and fruit based from Cromwell through to Roxburgh; and the Central Otago Rail Trail.
People then feed off these, such as restaurants; accommodation; non adrenalin pumping adventure activities like walking and cycling; etc.
Good luck with Tuakau. Last time I was there was with a group of motorcycle mates, and we found the hospitality at the local extremely good. Needless to say even in those days we were 'reasonably' responsible so only stayed for a few beers then headed back to town.......but it was the hospitality that has stayed with me......an older hotelier quite happy to chat with some young guns, and a couple of locals who in a totally acceptable good natured way made us feel welcome.
Left Auckland near 40 years ago and now living in Central Otago, so unable to help you with recent comment about Tuakau Luigi.....but I thought maybe how we promote Central could help.
What seems to be most successful is to identify a couple of seriously successful 'happenings' and milk them for all they are worth. Down here the three seem to be the adventure tourism activities based mainly out of Queenstown; our wine and fruit based from Cromwell through to Roxburgh; and the Central Otago Rail Trail.
People then feed off these, such as restaurants; accommodation; non adrenalin pumping adventure activities like walking and cycling; etc.
Good luck with Tuakau. Last time I was there was with a group of motorcycle mates, and we found the hospitality at the local extremely good. Needless to say even in those days we were 'reasonably' responsible so only stayed for a few beers then headed back to town.......but it was the hospitality that has stayed with me......an older hotelier quite happy to chat with some young guns, and a couple of locals who in a totally acceptable good natured way made us feel welcome.
Cheers.