Richard gave an entertaining speech last week. Most of it was on the operations at the Dunedin airport rather than the title ‘’Great White Sharks off the Otago Coast’’. Why was it called that? Because Richard read that normally if Sharks get mentioned it will get a good click through rate. I think it worked as there was a great turnout.The airport is 50% owned by the crown and 50% from Dunedin city holdings and employs over 250 staff. They have their own sewage treatment system and also have a worm farm to help deal with the waste product.
It is a diverse operation with 30 residential houses that are now at the healthly home standards, two diary farms and a fuel station.
When Richard started they had 480,000 passengers a year which grew to 1,077,000 in 2018. In the last two years to June (including Covid) they dropped to 761,000. Unfortunately they had to resize the operation down 25% due to the drop in numbers. But he is confident those numbers can be achieved once again.
Richard shared a story about talking to three executives from Virgin who fly to 100 locations about Dunedin. They admitted they knew nothing.
Richard being very passionate about Dunedin told them all what the region has to offer. He told them about the biggest bird in the world we have, the steepest street and also one of rarest penguins right here in Dunedin.
He has an interest in wildlife photography and share some entertaining photos including a smiling fish (and an uncouth turtle)!
