A group of overseas visitors have been spending lockdown in a Wanaka hostel, where the manager’s generous care has caught the eye of a Scottish newspaper.

Flying Kiwi Hostel manager David Brown, who has travelled the world, bought the Wanaka hostel in 2010.

“A number of strangers rescued me when I was younger in Dundee and I have never forgotten how it felt and what the profound impact was for my life even today,” he told The Courier.

David told the Wanaka App the hostel had 15 travellers staying in the one bubble.

“We have German, Swedish, American, French, English and Italian guests who have all been in lockdown since level four.” 

“We reduced the numbers per room to two to manage the exposure but obviously it is hard. We also have kept a flat empty in case anyone required COVID-19 isolation.”

Reducing guest numbers has had a financial impact, and David has also reduced the guests’ fees and provided them with free cleaning and washing as well as contactless linen replacement.

He and his staff have been helping the travellers communicate with their consulates and provided free email, scanning and phone calls, which David said has helped some secure repatriation flights home. David has also assisted with transport for travellers without a vehicle, for example taking one traveller to the medical centre this past weekend.

The Flying Kiwi has been home to 15 travellers during lockdown.

He kept the four hostel staff on the payroll and utilised the wage subsidy throughout the lockdown.

“They are also backpackers and without work they would also struggle,” he said.

David’s role in assisting fellow Scot Fiona Rae when she found herself in Wanaka possibly developing COVID-19 was featured in Scottish newspaper The Courier.

David and Fiona are both Dundee-born. 

Fiona had arrived in New Zealand just before the extent of the pandemic was realised, and developed cold-like symptoms while staying at the Flying Kiwi.

David secured a COVID-19 test for her and provided her a room in which to self-isolate. 

Fortunately the test was negative and Fiona was able to return to Australia, where she was living before lockdown.

David’s care for the stranded tourist showed the “generosity of Taysiders”, according to The Courier.

“David set me up for self-isolation in the Scottish room, which was comforting and reminded me of home. He checked in on me every couple of hours to make sure I was alright, gave me food, asked if there was anything he could do,” Fiona told The Courier.

During the lockdown David has also been busy preparing for the hostel’s rebranding, scheduled for the beginning of June.

PHOTOS: Supplied