Great leap forward for bungy giant

A shareholding reshuffle at Bungy New Zealand, the company which owns AJ Hackett Bungy's New Zealand operations, has brought together some of the country's best known tourism companies.
 

A partnership that comes into effect on August 8 will see Queenstown businesses Trojan Holdings and Gulley Holdings join Bungy New Zealand owners Henry van Asch and John Ward as shareholders of Bungy New Zealand Limited.

Trojan Holdings, a Queenstown family business, is a major shareholder in NZSki Limited (owner of New Zealand's premier ski areas Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt), The Hermitage Aoraki Mount Cook ,Glacier Explorers and Ultimate Hikes.

Gulley Holdings' interests include Kawarau Jet and The Dairy private hotel. Director ,Andrew Brinsley is also a director of NZSki Limited.

Bungy pioneer Henry van Asch says the new shareholding gives Bungy New Zealand a reinforced Queenstown base which will secure bungy into the future.

"We have been providing a personal challenge for people from around the world for 20 years this November and this new partnership allows our great crew to look forward to opportunities into the next 20 years.

"We've joined forces with two other Queenstown families who share our enthusiasm for bungy and will bring their own considerable tourism expertise and history to Bungy New Zealand."

Trojan's Michael Davies says the move is a natural progression.

"This is a partnership between the next generation of Queenstown business people. As local people we have all known each other for many years and this agreement represents a sensible and positive way of moving forward and continuing to develop bungy products."

For Mr Brinsley, the new partnership is a 'coming home'. He worked as general manager for AJ Hackett Bungy in the early days of the company before leaving to set up Pipeline Bungy,.

"This is a win/win situation for us all and most importantly assures Bungy as a 'must do' activity for adventure seeking visitors to New Zealand," he said.

Bungy New Zealand shareholding is now divided between Fun Innovators owned by Henry van Asch, Simner Investments owned by John Ward, Trojan Holdings owned by the Davies family and Gulley Holdings owned by the Brinsley family.