Venture Timaru's role

The role of Venture Timaru as the RTO (Regional Tourism Organisation)

Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) are vital to the development of their regions, adopting a holistic approach to planning for and fostering sustainable growth in the visitor economy. These organisations are responsible for managing tourism opportunities and addressing its impacts in ways that benefit local communities. They also handle the marketing of the destination to attract visitors, while ensuring that the experiences available are sustainable for both visitors and residents alike.

Ultimately, this approach leads to greater prosperity for everyone involved.

As the RTO for the Timaru District, we are responsible for the national and international marketing of the Timaru District. We facilitate connections between industry leaders and local stakeholders, and we play a key role in creating and implementing the Destination Management Plan for the district. Additionally, we offer support to local operators and accommodation providers

Destination Management Plan - updated February 2025

Meet our tourism team

Di Hay

Operations and Destination Manager

di@venturetimaru.nz

With a strong background in communications and marketing, Di has experience across a variety of fields, including print and radio journalism, public relations, marketing, and on-air presenting for commercial radio. She has also played an integral role in establishing and managing two retail businesses, along with a wholesale operation specialising in importing goods.

Di holds a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies from Massey University. In addition to her professional work, she serves as a trustee for Regional Tourism New Zealand and the Mid and South Canterbury Community Trust, as well as a board member for the South Island Masters Games.

Sharnae Naysmith

Tourism Marketing and Engagement Manager

sharnae@venturetimaru.nz

Sharnae is passionate about the tourism industry and is dedicated to attracting visitors to the beautiful Timaru District.

She began her tourism journey studying hospitality and tourism management in Queenstown, later launching her career in the industry with the renowned tourism company Real Journeys (now RealNZ). Sharnae brings over a decade of experience in marketing management, having worked across a range of industries including media, agriculture, construction, and tourism.