From Patagonia:
This past Friday, January 19th 2024, Patagonia celebrated the opening of its first New Zealand retail store. Located in Tāhuna/Queenstown, the store is positioned at the heart of New Zealand’s fly fishing community and includes a custom designed “Fly Bar,” a fully equipped, in store fly tying hub, as well as a selection of fly rods from New Zealand’s own Epic Fly Rods.
The occasion was marked with a Grand Opening event on Friday, where Santillan De Pinto, Patagonia Queenstown’s Fly Fishing Manager, and Mark Barrett, President of the Otago Anglers Club, invited guests to have a go at fly tying for the first time and watch demonstrations from globally renowned guide Simon Chu and Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard.
“The Fly Bar is a gift to the community, a place to connect for ongoing workshops, events and education around fly fishing and the protection of the waterways of New Zealand,” said Patagonia Queenstown’s Fly Fish Manager, Santillan De Pinto.
Patagonia was honored to welcome many guests from the local region including fly fishing, climbing, biking, alpine, snow, and trail communities, regenerative agriculture farmers, BCorps, and a special guest appearance from marine scientist and cycling world record holder Annie Ford. Other guests included Patagonia Tahuna’s 1% For The Planet grant recipients The Whakatipu Reforestation Trust, Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust, Southern Lakes Sanctuary, Mana Tāhuna Charitable Trust, Friends of Bullock Creek and WAI Wanaka. Patagonia Tāhuna/Queenstown’s employee led grants council allocated $100,000 USD in grants to these local environmental grassroots groups in December 2023.
Patagonia’s Cody Randell described the event “with a profound sense of gratitude to be so well supported by our local community. We’re impressed with the turn out and super excited for the future friendships to come.”
Local artist Ella Dulson stoked out guests with her screen printing carousel. Ella’s designs themed around watershed conservation in New Zealand. Guests were also treated to a performance from Queenstown’s local busking legend and pianist Luke Gajdus.
The Tahuna/Queenstown Store honors Patagonia’s commitment to opening stores that have a positive impact on the local community, designed and crafted as a place to gather, educate, collaborate and experience.
Patagonia Tāhuna/Queenstown Store, 49 Beach Street, Queenstown, NZ
Open seven days a week: 10am to 6pm
Please visit https://www.patagonia.co.nz/pages/patagonia-queenstown for further store details.
About Patagonia
We’re in business to save our home planet. Founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973, Patagonia is an outdoor apparel company based in Ventura, California. As a certified B Corporation and a founding member of 1% for the Planet, the company is recognized internationally for its product quality and environmental activism, as well as its contributions of nearly $230 million to environmental organizations. Its unique ownership structure reflects that Earth is its only shareholder: Profits not reinvested back into the business are paid as dividends to protect the planet.
