Going above and beyond – all in a day's work for Queenstown businesses

The conscientious owners of a Queenstown holiday park know that longevity in the industry is about more than just campsites and van nights.

Celebrating their 24th anniversary this month, Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park ‘Creeksyde’ owners Erna and Tonnie Spijkerbosch say community mindedness and sustainable practice are important ingredients in their recipe for success.

June was a busy month for the holiday park owners, who not only celebrated 24 successful years in business, but were also honoured with an award in recognition of services to their community and their industry.

Mr and Mrs Spijkerbosch say they have been “humbled” by their recent President’s Award win, presented to them by the industry they have been committed to for so long.  Honoured in front of 250 delegates at the Holiday Parks Conference & Trade Exhibition run by Holiday Accommodation Parks Association of New Zealand (HAPNZ), the award is only given out to those who go ‘above and beyond’.

“Tonnie and I were incredibly proud to win this award.  We’re really passionate about the industry, so to be recognised in front of all of our peers is a great honour,” said Creeksyde owner Erna Spijkerbosch.

Creeksyde and its staff were entrants in the ‘Spirit of Hospitality’ Award category for this year’s event.  Whilst they were not winners of their category, their President’s Award recognises the actions they took when alerted to the plight of visitors who had a bad experience during their time in New Zealand.  Mr and Mrs Spijkerbosch opened up their family home and holiday home to the visitors to ensure they would leave with a positive experience of New Zealand.

“The President’s Award is not something that happens every year.  This is a special presentation to Erna and Tonnie following a very extraordinary thing they did to help a family who had been through a terrible ordeal while visitors to our country,” said HAPNZ CEO Fergus Brown.
“It’s just what you do.  If you’re asked by your industry to host visitors who need assistance, you just do it. You do whatever you can to try to redeem the industry,” said Mrs Spijkerbosch.

“A lot of people came forward to help, which shows the Kiwi spirit.” 

Another Queenstowner, Hank Sproull from Air Milford, was also recognised by HAPNZ with a President’s Award relating to the same family. Hank’s presentation happened over a lunch at Rata.

Their recent actions are not out of character for the Spijkerbosch’s or Hank, who all have a strong community and environmental focus running through all aspects of their operation.

Following the conference, Mr and Mrs Spijkerbosch hosted 60 delegates for lunch at Creeksyde who were able to see first-hand the innovative initiatives the holiday park runs in their commitment to sustainability.

As stalwarts of the Queenstown community, the couple involved the Queenstown Lion’s Club as volunteers at the lunch.

After lunch, guests were treated to Creeksyde’s signature shortbread.  Cut into the shape of the park’s iconic Reception building, cooking shortbread is an annual tradition for the holiday park’s birthday.

“The shortbread is very well known, we’ve been doing it for 24 years,” said Mrs Spijkerbosch.

“Each year we take a batch to the senior citizens and this year we’ll be doing the same.

‘Queenstown is a small community, and we’ve always been committed to being active within this community.

“Last year we were recognised with an award for outstanding services to the industry, so to be recognised again means a lot to us.”