HANMER SPRINGS Hanmer Springs is a new age paradox. Hanmer Springs is now one of those places that the old historic perception is not lived up too. Hanmer Springs is a new age ‘oil well’ for this modern icon and being milked by the local and national tourist authorities. The old age perception is of course the ‘springs and solitude’ healing and soul gratification environment. Now, Hanmer Springs is 100% commercial tourist entity that the ‘springs’ very satisfactorily produces; hence the term oil well. Hanmer Springs is a very busy tourist destination and being driven hard in that respect. “Queenstown” is written all over it. The town is built around a popular hot spring which was discovered in the late 19th century. The hot springs were produced by the fractured rock bed along the Hanmer fault and the springs and environment were considered therapeutic. Hanmer Springs' Queen Mary Hospital, the South Island's leading rehabilitation centre for sufferers of drug addiction, was controversially closed in 2003. The closure opened the way for the new commercial Hanmer. So Hanmer Springs is a now popular tourist destination, and the town's population swells during holidays. Bunjy jumping, mountain biking and bush walking are common tourist activities, and there is an airline service available for the viewing of the town's alpine surroundings. The authorities should visit Rotorua (  a free market) and now open the Hanmer centre to the full forces of the commercial opportunities, because in the current monopolistic environment their will be no market forces at work to control pricing. The hotels, motels and holiday parks are all seeking a bit of the 'hot water' action. To visit Hanmer Springs you must now be prepared to be price gouged and mix it with 000’s. What might Hanmer Springs have been????? Low key War Memorial Low key church engagement no museum and plastic hotels.