A Waikato business that was first to benefit from a controversial government fund to protect tourism assets has turned down another $2 million of help it was due.
More than 90 percent of Discover Waitomo's business is usually from international visitors but with the borders closed due to Covid-19, it got a $2 million grant from the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme to help save jobs and businesses essentially to local communities.
An additional $2 million loan facility was also made available to Discover Waitomo but it had to accept the line of credit before the end of the month or the offer expires.
Discover Waitomo is owned by Tourism Holdings. Lisa Owen asked chief executive Grant Webster to explain his decision.
As part of that same funding programme, AJ Hackett was given $5 million by way of a grant, and was offered $5 million as a loan.
The bungee company is still actively considering a draft version of the loan, but is yet to confirm if they want to go ahead with it.
Meanwhile the Auditor General's office is investigating whether all applications to the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme were treated in the same way.
