2010

The increasing reliance on volunteers by sport events, combined with increased service delivery expectations by event consumers has led to a renewed interest ways of maximising both the quality and quantity of volunteer contributions. Concomitantly, sport organisations are increasingly seeking to leverage benefits from hosting events – one of these potential legacies is a larger and more capable volunteer workforce.

There is growing anecdotal evidence that accidents and publicity associated with those accidents is having an influence on decisions to participate/not participate in outdoor recreation activities. There are, however, no empirical data to confirm or explain these trends. Understanding the influence of perceived risk in decision-making regarding participation in outdoor recreation is critical if New Zealand is to continue to encourage healthy outdoor leisure lifestyles and to experience the commensurate benefits associated with such activity.

The objectives of this research are:
1) Assess the influence of perceived risk on primary and intermediate school decisions regarding outdoor recreation activities for pupils.

Venture Hawkes Bay, and its regional partners in tourism development, is looking to gain a deeper understanding of visitor satisfaction and behaviour in the region to underpin future tourism strategy development. NZTRI is going to establish a research barometer that can provide ongoing information about visitors to the region – forming part of a regional decision support system that can inform and better focus tourism industry development in the future.

In February 2010, BBH conducted their annual hostel ratings survey. NZTRI is assisting BBH with the processing of paper responses to the survey and report back to BBH at the end of April.

Dr. John Hull is working with Canadian Badlands, Ltd and the Blackfoot First Nation to complete a training needs assessment for this National Historic Site of Canada.  He
visited the Park in February 2010 and is presently working with Kalahari
Management based in Calgary and NZTRI staff to design and deliver a week
long training program in interpretation, marketing, business viability,
and customer service scheduled for May 2010.