Briefs

Air New Zealand is adding more capacity to its domestic schedule in December, using its newer A321 Airbus aircraft on its existing A320 services until the end of the month.

Auckland Unlimited’s Study Auckland and Northland Inc have launched a new one-stop tourism website to help international students explore the northern regions.

Visitor spend for the September 2020 quarter fell to $1.47bn, down from $2.88bn for the same period last year, according to new government data.

The value of building consents issued for hotels, motels and other short term accommodation for October 2020 was $66m, down 4.5% on the same month last year, according to Stats NZ.

Rental vehicle operators Jucy and Avis New Zealand, as well as cruise line Princess Cruises, have been recognised in the Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards 2021.

Hawke’s Bay has secured hosting rights for the 2021 Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) conference.

Tourism Holdings has partnered with Tourism New Zealand and Vodafone to launch a 4-week Work from Anywhere campaign.

Spending by overseas visitors and students within New Zealand fell by half to $1.5bn in the September 2020 quarter, compared with the same period last year, says Stats NZ.

Christchurch Airport says it will see a boost in cargo flights this summer following more Government support for the International Air Freight Capacity (IAFC) scheme.

Singaporean-based Naumi Hotels has officially opened its Wellington city hotel, its fourth property in New Zealand.

Queenstown-based recruitment firm Remarkable Labour has launched its Kiwi OE scheme to attract young workers to the resort.

WellingtonNZ is seeking a supplier to help the region’s tourism businesses to become carbon neutral.

Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult has welcome Government changes that will make it easier to fill tourism and hospitality roles in the district.

The Government is extending its business debt relief programme until October 2021.

The Government has introduced a bill to Parliament to expand sick leave entitlements from five days to ten days a year.

SkyCity Entertainment says its Adelaide casino and entertainment facilities are no longer subject to a maximum capacity limit of 100 people.

Auckland Airport has won the asset owners category in the BuildingSMART International 2020 Awards for its digital modelling of its buildings.

Auckland will host the International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists conference in 2023.

Capstone Hotel Management has added three new properties to its management portfolio.

Domestic passenger movements at Queenstown Airport rose to 134,608 in October 2020, up 5% on the same month in 2019.

The Environmental Defence Society is calling for a strengthening of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 to better protect the landscapes of the Hauraki Gulf Islands.

Air New Zealand passenger numbers fell to around 690,000 in October 2020, down 50.6% on the same month last year.

Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum is this week reopening its South Atrium entrance, Te Ao Mārama, after being closed for 18 months.

Fiordland’s Milford Track has fully re-opened today after being damaged by a storm on 4-6 February.

Arrivals for the four weeks to 1 November totalled 8100, down from 265,640 for the corresponding period last year.

Air New Zealand will now operate 55 international cargo flights per week after it was awarded more trips under the International Air Freight Capacity Scheme.

Go with Tourism has launched a new digital marketing campaign asking New Zealanders to “broaden their horizons” when it comes to a future in tourism.

The tool allowed virtual planners to navigate their way around popular islands such as Rarotonga and Aitutaki from a computer, tablet or mobile device.

DOC spent around $20,000 each year repairing damage.

German man Horst Westenfelder, 64, died on 2 July at an overseas hospital due to medical complications while receiving treatment for injuries.

The route spanned 341km from Otepoti/Dunedin to the foot of the Southern Alps at Queenstown.

Safari Hotels’ LQ Queenstown will open on 11 December 2020.

Four Points by Sheraton Auckland has won a brace of national property awards.

It is New Zealand’s first purpose-built cruise ship facility.

The Department of Conservation has completed its planned Himalayan tahr control operations for 2020.

The International Association of Women in Police (IAWP) Annual Conference will bring an estimated $1.3m into the local economy when Auckland plays host in 2023, says Auckland Convention Bureau.

A surge in first-time campervan users is predicted for this summer, says Quirky Campers NZ.

The global cruise industry is expected to lose US$19.6bn in revenue amid the coronavirus outbreak, a 71% plunge year-over-year, according to StockApps.com.

Auckland Zoo is looking for new overseas homes for its two female Asia elephants, Anjalee and Burma.

A new interactive cycle route map has been launched that shows how the cycling network connects across New Zealand.

Running from Wednesday to Sunday, the festival draws hot rod, classic car, caravan and motorcycle enthusiasts to the area.

Operators intending to carry fare-paying passengers to watch the America’s Cup will need to be in a recognised safety system, says Maritime NZ.

Construction of Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre is on track to be completed mid-2021, with the first events likely to be held in the second half of the year.

This will continue to have a severe impact on New Zealand services exports, primarily tourism and international education.

Christchurch Airport has become the first airport in the world to achieve the Airports Carbon Accreditation Level 4 certification from Airports Council International.

Mt Hutt has been named New Zealand’s best ski resort at the 2020 World Ski Awards. 

Otago Museum has euthanised its jewelled gecko Manawa after expert treatments could not revive him from a series of ailments.

Ricardo Menéndez March, a list MP, took over the tourism spokesperson role from Gareth Hughes.

WellingtonNZ has launched its micro travel show as part of its Wild Weekends campaign to draw domestic travellers to the city.

Canterbury Museum will host the 2020 Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.