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Sunday 21 April 2024
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Attractions

New “visitor icon” gallery attracts 5k in opening weekend
2 Nov 2023   /

New “visitor icon” gallery attracts 5k in opening weekend

The Toi MAHARA art gallery on the Kāpiti Coast has attracted more than 5,000 people in its opening weekend.


“You need an effective tourism operation” – Waitangi’s new CEO on transformation
1 Nov 2023  

“You need an effective tourism operation” – Waitangi’s new CEO on transformation

Ben Dalton says a new focus on a particular type of visitor, as well as events, are priorities for Waitangi Treaty Grounds.


NZ Tourism Awards: Dave Kilmister on the rise of Huka Falls River Cruise

NZ Tourism Awards: Dave Kilmister on the rise of Huka Falls River Cruise

The operator has been nominated for the Tourism Industry Champion Award.


National Aquarium’s Dora the Kororā dies
31 Oct 2023  

National Aquarium’s Dora the Kororā dies

Dora the Kororā, one of the famous blue penguins at the National Aquarium of New Zealand, has died.


Wētā Workshop Unleashed bolsters multi-language products, adds tours
31 Oct 2023  

Wētā Workshop Unleashed bolsters multi-language products, adds tours

Wētā Workshop Unleashed has developed new multi-language capabilities and added tours at its Auckland location within SkyCity.


EcoZip dangles pass for life in competition to name zipline
30 Oct 2023  

EcoZip dangles pass for life in competition to name zipline

EcoZip Adventures is running a competition to seek out the best new name for its Kaikōura zipline.


Wai Ariki, airport CEO among property winners
30 Oct 2023   /

Wai Ariki, airport CEO among property winners

Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, Waikato Regional Airport Group chief executive Mark Morgan, and the Rotorua Lakefront Redevelopment team have won awards at the Central People Property Awards.


Geopark, iwi, RTO secure funding from innovation fund
24 Oct 2023  

Geopark, iwi, RTO secure funding from innovation fund

Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust is among five recipients of funding from the $14m programme.


Wētā’s WWI exhibitions to be unveiled at Te Arawhata
3 Oct 2023   /

Wētā’s WWI exhibitions to be unveiled at Te Arawhata

Wētā Workshop is to open its $15m World War I art and visitor experience in Le Quesnoy, France, next week.


Glamping, going green, growth – Karen Fifield on Wellington Zoo’s future
29 Sep 2023  

Glamping, going green, growth – Karen Fifield on Wellington Zoo’s future

The first Kiwi president of WAZA on her priorities in the role and the new opportunities for the capital’s attraction.


December opening for first Pounamu Pathway experience

December opening for first Pounamu Pathway experience

Wētā Workshop and Poutini Ngāi Tahu are bringing stories of the historic Pounamu Pathway to life, with the first experience centre expected to open in December.


MOTAT receives investment for science, tech centre
27 Sep 2023   /

MOTAT receives investment for science, tech centre

Te Whai Ao Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies is investing in MOTAT’s new science and technology centre.


Govt provides another $10m for museum redevelopment
18 Sep 2023  

Govt provides another $10m for museum redevelopment

The government is providing $10m from the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund for Canterbury Museum’s redevelopment.


Punting on the Avon restarts tours from iconic Chch bridge

Punting on the Avon restarts tours from iconic Chch bridge

Christchurch Attractions is restarting its Punting on the Avon tours from the Worcester Bridge site from today.


Marlborough Museum welcomes new team
13 Sep 2023  

Marlborough Museum welcomes new team

Marlborough Museum now has a full team on board to protect the region’s history and taonga for the future.


Transport World’s Back Shed tour returns
11 Sep 2023  

Transport World’s Back Shed tour returns

Invercargill’s Transport World is preparing to host an insider’s journey into automotive craftmanship as part of its Back Shed tour, which returns next month.


Virtual sculpture hovers above Wellington harbour
11 Sep 2023   /

Virtual sculpture hovers above Wellington harbour

Visitors to Wellington can experience extended reality through their mobile devices and see a new virtual sculpture hovering above the harbour.


AJ Hackett Bungy NZ donates $300k to predator control
7 Sep 2023   /

AJ Hackett Bungy NZ donates $300k to predator control

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Fewer numbers, better experience – THL rejigs Waitomo for sustainable future
5 Sep 2023   /

Fewer numbers, better experience – THL rejigs Waitomo for sustainable future

The operator will not allow large tour groups to return to its popular glowworm caves attraction.


Hanmer Springs introducing new slides
5 Sep 2023  

Hanmer Springs introducing new slides

Hanmer Thermal Pools & Spa is introducing two new hydroslides to its offerings, due to open on 11 October.


Auckland Museum promotes Reeves to CEO
22 Aug 2023   /

Auckland Museum promotes Reeves to CEO

Reeves, who is the director of collections and research at Auckland Museum, has been interim chief executive since the departure of Dr David Gaimster in June.


Operators recognised in Grand Pacific Tours awards
17 Aug 2023   /

Operators recognised in Grand Pacific Tours awards

Distinction Christchurch has taken the top spot in two categories at Grand Pacific Tours’ Supplier and Crew Awards this year.


DOC to decide fate of Coromandel’s Cathedral Cove
11 Aug 2023   /

DOC to decide fate of Coromandel’s Cathedral Cove

The Department of Conservation expects to determine the fate of the popular Coromandel hotspot Cathedral Cove next week.


MOTAT turns to tree-based biofuels for steam tram
11 Aug 2023   /

MOTAT turns to tree-based biofuels for steam tram

MOTAT is trialling tree-based biofuels to power one of its steam trams.


Hamilton Zoo co-founder Murray Powell passes
10 Aug 2023  

Hamilton Zoo co-founder Murray Powell passes

Murray and his late wife Gloria Powell established the Hilldale Game Park in December 1969.


Cannabis museum to reopen in Auckland
10 Aug 2023  

Cannabis museum to reopen in Auckland

Whakamana Cannabis Museum says it has secured a site at the city’s Hopetoun Alpha building.


Hamilton Zoo’s ‘world first’ tourism innovation project
8 Aug 2023   /

Hamilton Zoo’s ‘world first’ tourism innovation project

The attraction is developing a new tool to support NZ’s popular wildlife, such as whales, and ecotourism too.


Orana welcomes new siamang gibbon
7 Aug 2023   /

Orana welcomes new siamang gibbon

Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch has introduced a new siamang gibbon to its family.


Queenstown’s Kiwi Park tuatara recovering in Dunedin
4 Aug 2023   /

Queenstown’s Kiwi Park tuatara recovering in Dunedin

Kiwi Park tuatara Merri is on the road to recovery after surgery at Dunedin Wildlife Hospital to remove a large mass under his jaw.


Rotorua Museum’s $81m strengthening project gets council go-ahead
3 Aug 2023   /

Rotorua Museum’s $81m strengthening project gets council go-ahead

Rotorua Lakes Council’s infrastructure and environment committee has voted in favour of strengthening and eventually reopening the city’s iconic museum.


Big pay rises at Skyline as recovery takes hold
1 Aug 2023  

Big pay rises at Skyline as recovery takes hold

The return of international visitors and competition for labour appears to have driven wages up significantly at the Queenstown-based group.


Te Puia pays first dividend to new owners after 65% recovery, refocus on yield
31 Jul 2023  

Te Puia pays first dividend to new owners after 65% recovery, refocus on yield

The operator’s CEO also says a new tour model at the Rotorua attraction has been “contentious” for some.


An Operator’s View: Larnach Castle’s Norcombe Barker
31 Jul 2023   /

An Operator’s View: Larnach Castle’s Norcombe Barker

The attraction’s MD on the neverending work at the “big maintenance project”, new product, and frustration over DMPs and governance.


Sustainability institute, zoo secure tourism innovation funding
25 Jul 2023   /

Sustainability institute, zoo secure tourism innovation funding

Regeneration and conservation projects are the latest to get co-funding from the $44m Innovation Programme for Tourism Recovery.


Game on for attractions, tour operators as World Cup comes to town…
20 Jul 2023   /

Game on for attractions, tour operators as World Cup comes to town…

Operators across the host cities are reporting healthy bookings, particularly around match days.


“It was just ridiculous” – Matariki drives demand to strong school holidays finish
18 Jul 2023   /

“It was just ridiculous” – Matariki drives demand to strong school holidays finish

The Matariki long weekend gave operators a welcome boost over the final stretch of the school holidays with decent weather also helping to fill tours and attract customers.


Contractor sought for Central Otago museum, events centre
12 Jul 2023  

Contractor sought for Central Otago museum, events centre

Central Otago District Council is seeking a building contractor for its proposed new Cromwell Memorial Hall, museum and events centre, with registrations of interest open for the project.


Hamilton Gardens among top 1% travel experiences
7 Jul 2023   /

Hamilton Gardens among top 1% travel experiences

Hamilton Gardens has made it into the top 1% of travel experiences in the world according to Tripadvisor’s 2023 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best awards.


International Antarctic Centre up for sale as RealNZ divests
6 Jul 2023   /

International Antarctic Centre up for sale as RealNZ divests

The Queenstown-based operator is selling four businesses but also investing in an asset to serve its popular Walter Peak attraction.


Te Papa scores NZ exclusive for dinosaur exhibition
4 Jul 2023  

Te Papa scores NZ exclusive for dinosaur exhibition

Te Papa has secured hosting rights as the only New Zealand venue to showcase a new dinosaur exhibition from The Paleontological Museum Egidio Feruglio.


Polynesian Spa recovering well but competition coming – Rangatira
3 Jul 2023   /

Polynesian Spa recovering well but competition coming – Rangatira

The 51% owner of the Rotorua attraction notes the new competition coming from Wai Ariki.


Skyline Queenstown reopens with new gondolas
30 Jun 2023  

Skyline Queenstown reopens with new gondolas

Skyline Queenstown has reopened to the public with fresh new 10-seat gondola cabins and a new top terminal.


Doppelmayr lauds “new era” in aerial transport for Queenstown

Doppelmayr lauds “new era” in aerial transport for Queenstown

Doppelmayr New Zealand says the successful completion and opening of the Skyline Queenstown gondola marks a new era of convenience, comfort, and efficiency for visitors to the attraction.


Canterbury Museum pop-up to open on Matariki
30 Jun 2023   /

Canterbury Museum pop-up to open on Matariki

Canterbury Museum will open its pop-up museum in Christchurch with a free exhibition starting on the Matariki public holiday on 14 July.


Hamilton attractions join Matariki celebrations
28 Jun 2023  

Hamilton attractions join Matariki celebrations

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton Zoo at Te Kaaroro Nature Precinct, and Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga O Waikato are getting behind Matariki celebrations this year with a range of free events and activities.


Polynesian Spa, Rainbows End lift Rangatira
26 Jun 2023  

Polynesian Spa, Rainbows End lift Rangatira

Rangatira Investments says its recovering tourism attractions have helped it return a net profit of $20.4m for the year to 31 March 2023, up 122% on the previous 12 months.


Wētā Workshop Unleashed adds new languages to experience
26 Jun 2023  

Wētā Workshop Unleashed adds new languages to experience

Wētā Workshop Unleashed is introducing new languages to its Auckland experience offerings, with Mandarin and Japanese now available.


Skyline profit more than doubles to $71m on strong recovery
23 Jun 2023  

Skyline profit more than doubles to $71m on strong recovery

Revenue jumps by 49% to $183m, “with the reopening of international travel markets a strong contributor to that result”.


NZ operators among Tripadvisor’s best
23 Jun 2023   /

NZ operators among Tripadvisor’s best

New Zealand tourism operators have topped the rankings in three categories across Tripadvisor’s best travel experiences in the world for 2023.


MEETINGS 2023: How a regional cultural attraction plans to catch MICE
22 Jun 2023   /

MEETINGS 2023: How a regional cultural attraction plans to catch MICE

Te Pā Tū Rotorua’s summer season has hundreds of visitors through the doors every week with the reintroduction of cruise, but its quieter months are coming with a focus on food events and the returning MICE sector.