Briefs

Queenstown-based Go Orange has today resumed jet boat operations having temporarily closed after five customers were injured on the Kawarau River on Monday (26 January).

The Department of Conservation is using geo-targeting technology to manage visitor impact as part of its $150,000 behaviour in nature campaign, ‘Love this Place’.

Ryan Sanders’ Haka Tourism Group has chalked up another accolade with its Haka Lodge Auckland making Hostel World’s top nine hostels for 2019.

Heritage Hotels’ integrated marketing campaign for the New Zealand July school holiday has been recognised on the world stage receiving a silver Adrian Award.

The redevelopment of Frankton Motor Camp is set to begin at the end of the month in a move that will add “much needed” camping capacity to the Queenstown region.

Kāpiti Coast District Council is looking for an economic boost from its calendar of new and returning large-scale summer events.

Rising prices for both international and domestic airfares were one of the main drivers behind a 0.5% increase to the consumer price index (CPI) in the December quarter, according to Stats NZ.

Dunedin’s iconic Octagon and surrounding streets are to be closed to traffic for a trial period over summer when visitors flock to a number of events take place in the southern city.

Destination Rotorua’s annual Chinese New Year event has taken place in Auckland as the Year of the Rat is ushered in.

The cruise season is in full swing in Nelson with two vessels arriving simultaneously yesterday in what Port Nelson said was a first for the region.

A new addition to popular Waikato tourist attraction, Hamilton Gardens, will be formally opened by Mayor Paula Southgate on Monday 3 February.

Christchurch will host the final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021, which is expected to bring in more than 15,000 visitor nights and nearly $3m in visitor spending to the city.

The two people missing after the Whakaari/White Island eruption on 9 December 2019 have been confirmed dead by the chief coroner.

Work has begun on the second bridge at Hokitika Gorge, which will link two sections of new track creating a one hour loop walk.

Māori businesses will be in the spotlight at the Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival in Auckland on 31 January.

State Highway 1 at Cape Reinga has reopened to traffic following a closure on Wednesday because of a large scrub fire.

The Rātana Pā near Whanganui now has ultra-fast broadband, in time for annual Rātana celebrations this week.

Federated Mountain Clubs is urging NZSki to pause its plan to charge for vehicle access on the Remarkables Ski Field access road, saying the move is ‘alarming’.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff says the recent Fullers ferry cancellations in Auckland are “unacceptable”.

Air New Zealand is trialling new computer vision artificial intelligence to help improve on-time performance.

The new Creative and Cultural Events Incubator, funded through the Major Events Fund, will open Monday 3 February.

The Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment has awarded its Responsible Camping Summer Research 2019/20 project to Auckland’s Fresh Information.

All proceeds generated from Auckland’s Sky Tower admissions on 26 January will go to the South Australian Country Fire Service Foundation (CFS).

Police have named the man who died following a fall on Mt Earnslaw on 18 January.

Construction has started on the upgrade of State Highway 20B to Auckland airport.

The Homer Tunnel on SH94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound has reopened, allowing hundreds of queued cars to pass through from Milford Sound.

Fog and low cloud are causing disruption to Air New Zealand’s regional turboprop and domestic jet services into and out of Wellington Airport.

Auckland Transport has announced its annual fare changes which come into effect from 9 February 2020.

Air New Zealand has opened flights for its new non-stop Auckland-New York flights.

A budding conservationist and her mother had a unique experience to learn about local threatened species and directly help with conservation efforts.

The South Island’s newest mountain biking adventure park opens today at Glendhu Bay, Wanaka.

The old Māori trade training hostel, Te Kooti te Rato, located at Rehua Marae in Christchurch will soon be repurposed into six modern apartments for local Christchurch whānau.

A body has been recovered after a person fell on Mount Earnslaw, Central Otago yesterday.

Tasman businesses will be boosted by a new Wellington – Nelson service launched by Originair, says a local business association.

A new ecosanctuary with a predator-proof fence on Golden Bay’s Cape Farewell has been opened.

The Mangapurua section of the Mountains to Sea cycle trail has been reopened following extensive work by the Department of Conservation.

Two popular tourist routes in the South Island will be affected by maintenance and resealing this week.

Ten walks on Aotea/Great Barrier Island have reopened following upgrades to prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease.

The Mood of the Nation survey validates destination management, according to Steve Armitage, general manager of destination at Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development.

A 40-year-old man has appeared in the Manukau District Court after customs investigators at Auckland Airport found child sexual abuse images and videos on his phone.

Hospitality spend grew by 1.8% to $59m in the last quarter of 2019, according to StatsNZ.

A pounamu sculpture stolen from Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa by a masked burglar has been recovered.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has released the scope of the report it commissioned from MartinJenkins on economic and social impact assessments of future airport development in the district. 

The number of consents for hotels, motels and other short-term accommodation grew by 20.7% to reach 519 for year to November 2019, compared to the same period last year.

Julie White is the new chief executive of industry body Hospitality New Zealand.

An award-winning waterfront eco-lodge in the Marlborough Sounds is on the market for sale.

Local residents and iwi have expressed concerns to the Tasman District Council Council relating to pollution and health and safety at the Waitapu Bridge freedom camping site.

At around 1.30 pm on 11 January, the Rescue Coordination Centre received an emergency locator beacon signal from the top of the Gillespie Pass, Mt Aspiring National Park.

Registrations are open for the inaugural Walter Peak high country farm run, to be held in Queenstown on 29 February 2020.

Mike McElhinney and Janine Tulloch have been reappointed to their roles on the board of the Waitaki District Council (WDC) council-controlled organisation, Tourism Waitaki.