Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has launched a new scheme to attract entrepreneurs and business leaders who can end the district’s tourism dependency.

The Home for Healthier Business campaign, a six-month pilot programme at this stage, promotes Queenstown, Wanaka and the surrounding communities as a place to live and work.

The hope is that high-flying businesspeople will move here for the lifestyle, and then build a team of locals around themselves to do business.

The group’s website tells the stories of people who've done just that, including Xero founder Rod Drury, global fintech leader Jason Wilby, accounting firm director Hayley Hobson, Mana Tahuna founder Michael Rewi, and food tech entrepreneur Alex Worker.

The website is already live and acts as a portal for business people considering relocation.

It features information and resources on moving to the district, everything from professional networks to details on local schools. Tabs include 'Build a Life', 'Build a Business' and 'Knowledge Base'.

"We envision these people establishing new businesses or transferring existing enterprises to the region," QLDC economic development manager Peter Harris said.

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"It is not a 'mass attraction' campaign; it’s about recruiting a small number of individuals, many of whom already have a connection to the region, and providing them with the resources, tools and networks they need to embed in the community.

"We hope to support them to grow their business here, and ideally open up new employment opportunities and career pathways for locals.”

The work of QLDC's economic development unit (EDU) was brought into sharp focus when Covid-19 decimated the tourism economy.

Some 60 per cent of workers in the district work in tourism jobs, and 40 per cent of businesses rely on the international visitor tourism spend.

EDU received $75,000 from Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) for the pilot.

It is supported by Destination Queenstown, Lake Wānaka Tourism and Startup Queenstown Lakes, and will collaborate with Research & Innovation Queenstown, which is building a $45 million tech hub in Remarkables Park.

"Queenstown Lakes district has a global reputation as a spectacular place to visit and holiday, but we want to challenge the perception of our district as a place simply to come on holiday,” Peter said.

"We have an exciting and progressive community of talent and innovation here which we want to build on. The Home for Healthier Business is a campaign to showcase Queenstown, Wanaka and surrounding communities as thriving places to live and do business while forging a regenerative economy."

The push will be for low-carbon, non-extractive industries, such as hospo tech, and regenerative initiatives, but everyone is welcome.

Peter said economic diversification in the region will take time, but he is positive about the future.

Food tech leader Alex Worker was at this morning's launch, ironically held at Queenstown Resort College, which trains people for careers in tourism and hospitality.

Alex spent six months in Panama in lockdown before returning to NZ for personal reasons.

He owned an investment property in Jack's Point and emailed the council about business opportunities. Both Peter and mayor Jim Boult responded personally.

"We realised this is one of the best centres for any returning expat Kiwi looking to have the balance of both business and lifestyle," Alex said.

"You're seven minutes from an international airport, within two minutes of that airport I can drop my kids off at the local school, and I found a really comfortable, warm and inviting co-working space at Mountain Club."

He highlighted the infrastructure and resources, with highlights such as being able to get a 4G signal while skiing up the mountain, and the pool of untapped talent, people who are living here for the lifestyle, often working in bars rather than their chosen profession.

"I think this region is primed for success over the next decade. I think it takes info-tech, cleantech, film tech or food tech to help enable that prosperity... but I don't think it needs to be growth at scale."

PHOTO: Supplied