Briefs

Auckland Council has moved to restrict freedom camping across the region with officials looking to see how the activity can be curtailed.

Destination Rotorua and 15 tourism operators have hosted more than 300 sellers in an Australian roadshow this week.

Scottish entrepreneur Sir Brian Souter is selling Howick and Eastern Buses and Mana Coach Services to France’s Transdev for an undisclosed sum.

The new Air New Zealand service between Auckland and Invercargill could inject up to $12.5m into the Southland region, according to economic development agency Great South.

Rotorua will keep its gold-level Ride Centre status for another four years – one of only six accredited in the world.

Minister of transport Phil Twyford has re-authorised Air New Zealand’s and Cathay Pacific’s joint venture alliance for another five years.

Queenstown Resort College has secured naming rights to the Winter Games.

Air Chathams’ Kāpiti – Auckland service carried more than 40,000 passengers on 1472 flights in its first year.

Real Journeys Birds of a Feather Conservation Ball raised $54,000 for the country’s endangered New Zealand falcon or kārearea.

Kiwis should continue to buy annual ski passes despite this year’s patchy season, according to new research.

Christchurch’s new hot pools have been named He Puna Taimoana.

Total passenger numbers at Auckland Airport reached 21.1 million in the year to 30 June 2019, up 2.8% on the previous period, said the operator.

The NZ Cruise Association’s 2019 Conference in Auckland on 22 -23 August has shifted venue to the Aotea Centre on Queen Street.

Tourism NZ has launched a trade campaign for North American travel advisors.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development has been awarded Enviro-Mark® Gold certification in recognition of its sustainability efforts.

Christchurch will host the 2021 annual conference of Australia’s home-based travel agent network, TravelManagers.

Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines will boost capacity between Auckland and Singapore with an additional 35,000 seats.

New Zealand Māori Tourism, in conjunction with Te Puni Kōkiri and Poutama Trust, has launched the first capability assessment of the Māori tourism sector since 2014.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Enviro-Mark Solutions have partnered to help tourism operators measure, manage and reduce their climate and environmental impacts.

A one-off tax gain in the US of $1.8m will boost Tourism Holdings’ net profit this year.

Potential providers of the International Visitor Survey are expected to be interviewed this month after a closed was held in July.

Christchurch is set to get a “world class” cannabis museum as part of plans to create New Zealand’s first cannabis social enterprise.

The NZ Transport Agency has asked for more public feedback as it develops the design of a mooted walking and cycling path across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

SkyCity has launched its offshore online gambling site skycitycasino.com through its Maltese subsidiary, SkyCity Malta Limited.

Auckland Council is seeking 14 student rangers to join its regional parks team for a three-month paid internship over summer.

Sector consultation is underway on the proposed expansion of the National Aquarium of New Zealand.

Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre has been awarded a Gold Qualmark Sustainable Tourism Business Award.

The end is in sight for the highway and rail rebuild along SH1 north and south of Kaikōura, as well as the inland route to Waiau, says the NZ Transport Agency.

Winning the Tourism Industry Aotearoa Sustainability Innovation Award at the 2019 Holiday Parks Association of NZ Conference was an honour for the team, says Camp Glenorchy Eco Retreat.

Registrations have opened for Conventions and Incentives New Zealand Annual Conference and AGM being held at Queenstown from 29 to 31 October.

Real Journeys 5th annual Birds of a Feather Conservation Ball will help efforts to save New Zealand’s at-risk native falcon – the kārearea – within its alpine habitat at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

Twenty-six inbound tour wholesalers and travel agents from across NZ and Australia have attended Destination Great Lake Taupō’s three-day mega famil.

Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology has launched a new model railway at the historic Waitakere train station.

Almost 3000 spectators and participants attended Rotorua’s Winter Forest Festival on Saturday.

Work-related ACC injury claims in the arts and recreation services industry dropped to 172 injuries per 1,000 full-time employees in 2018, down from 2017’s 202 injuries per 1,000 full-time employees.

The Overseas Investment Office has given consent to Orams Group to expand its lease of land at Wynyard Quarter on Auckland Harbour.

New Zealand car rental company Apex has formed a new partnership to tackle what they called a “plastic bottle epidemic in the tourism industry” by offering plant-based compostable water bottles.

Auckland’s inaugural winter festival, Elemental AKL, came to a close yesterday after a 31-day run which included more than 65 events and 120 participating eateries throughout the wider region.

Applications have opened for a new scholarship for students entering their final year of study towards a career in hotel management.

The Department of Conservation has picked four rangers to attend the World Ranger Congress in Nepal on 12-16 November. 

Building consents for hotels, motels and other short-term accommodation grew to 473 for the year to June 2019, up 44.3% on the previous 12 months.

The Department of Conservation’s senior ranger and supervisor, Suvi van Smit, is the 2019 winner of the Stephen O’Dea Developmental Award.

‘Business Health: Personal Health’ is the focus of Aviation NZ’s conference to be held at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland on 5 and 6 August.

The future of New Zealand’s marque cruise port, Auckland, and how its success will shape the sector will form the backbone of discussion at this year’s cruise conference.

Christchurch will tomorrow play host to Tourism Industry Aotearoa’s final Discussing Tourism fixture, bringing to a close the four-strong series that has taken place across the country this month.

Round four of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund will open for applications this Thursday 1 August 2019.

June spending by visitors to Hawke’s Bay grew at double the national average, according to the latest Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates.

Skyline Queenstown has launched its Night Luge experience after installing 225 lights and 5.5km of cabling on its luge tracks.

Sunset View Lodge at Baylys Beach west of Dargaville is up for sale. 

International passenger movements at Queenstown Airport increased to 43,892 in June, up 12% compared to the same month last year.