iFLY Queenstown Honoured with ‘Community Engagement’ Win at National Tourism Awards.
iFLY Indoor Skydiving Queenstown is proud to announce its recent accolade at the Tourism Industry Aotearoa National Tourism Awards, where it received the prestigious ‘Wayfinder Community Engagement’ award. This recognition highlights iFLY’s commitment to community involvement through its innovative iFLY Whakamana Youth Empowerment Programme.
Launched in 2021, the Whakamana Youth Empowerment Programme was developed in response to the mental health and wellbeing challenges faced by primary aged children prior to entering high school. In collaboration with local schools, the Whakatipu Youth Trust, Epic Living, Te Hau Toka, and Te Whatu Ora, iFLY created a unique initiative aimed at reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and providing support to the youth of the Whakatipu district.
Judges praised iFLY’s utilisation of its business assets to benefit the community by providing an inspiring and ‘uplifting’ experience for rangatahi in the district to help grow confidence and support wellbeing. Their ambitious social project, iFLY Whakamana Youth Programme, shows business can deliver tangible well-being benefits for community.
Marie Day, Sunny Sky, Jacqui Moir, Matt and Amy Wong
Since its inception, the programme has engaged 460 Year 7 and 8 students from across the district, offering them a supportive environment to discuss mental health and build resilience. The initiative underscores iFLY’s dedication to leveraging its resources and platform to make a positive impact on the community.
“We are deeply honoured to receive the ‘Wayfinder Community Engagement’ award,” said Matt Wong, owner of iFLY Queenstown. “This recognition reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to supporting our community, especially our youth, in navigating social challenges. We believe that businesses have a vital role to play in fostering well-being and resilience in our communities, and we are proud to contribute through the Whakamana Youth Empowerment Programme.”
The award was presented at the Tourism Industry Aotearoa National Tourism Awards ceremony on November 6, 2024, in Auckland. As one of only eleven national awards bestowed to tourism businesses at the event, it celebrates excellence across New Zealand’s tourism sector, acknowledging organisations who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the industry.
Matt Wong, Owner Director of iFLY Queenstown receiving the Wayfinder Community Engagement Award at the TIA Tourism Awards in Auckland 2024
iFLY Queenstown extends its gratitude to all partners, participants, and supporters of the Whakamana Youth Empowerment Programme. The company remains committed to fostering community engagement and looks forward to continuing its efforts to support the well-being of the Whakatipu district’s youth.
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