A TOAST TO NEW DESTINATION WAIRARAPA BOSS

The boss of New Zealand’s premier wine and food festival, Toast Martinborough, has been appointed as the new general manager of Destination Wairarapa.

Anna Nielson is taking over from David Hancock who has been at the helm of the region’s tourism organisation for eight years.

Ms Nielson has had a long and successful association with the food and beverage sector, including being a co-founder and co-director of Wellington on a Plate.

She describes her new role as a “dream job” and one that she has had her eye on for a long time.

“I feel as though what I have done and where I have come from, this new role is the perfect fit . . . I’m very excited,” Ms Nielson says.

Destination Wairarapa board chair Robin Dunlop says the board is delighted at being able to find a really “top notch” replacement for Mr Hancock.

“David has done a tremendous job over eight years, so Anna has big shoes to fill. She comes to us with a very impressive background and we are chuffed to have her onboard,” Mr Dunlop says.

Ms Nielson says she is proud of what she achieved as general manager of Toast Martinborough, a position she started in 2015 at a critical stage with the introduction of new legislation around the sale and supply of alcohol.

She was also instrumental in the creation of Wellington on a Plate, the now annual month long, city-wide event credited with lifting the Wellington restaurant industry out of the winter doldrums.

Among some of her other notable achievements was being part of the team that successfully wooed the famous Le Cordon Bleu French cooking school to Wellington.

With an appreciation for fine wine and dining Ms Nielson has an obvious strong connection to tourism in the Wairarapa.

“We are a food and wine destination, but there are so many other things that make Wairarapa a fantastic place to live or chose to come and visit,” she says.

“The scenery here is spectacular, with our big skies, and stunning coastline; the Tararua Forest Park is so accessible providing some wonderful walks and huts; there is always plenty to see and do in our towns. 

 “I want to carry on the tremendous work that is being done and help contribute to Wairarapa becoming a place that people want to keep visiting and then go home and brag about where they have been.”

Ms Nielson is married to husband Scott, together they have two children and live in Greytown.

She starts at Destination Wairarapa in February, 2020.