Funding

Round five of Tourism Infrastructrure Fund is now open for applications with five South Island regions hit hardest by the lack of international tourists given priority.

The newly extended $1.5bn facility will see it pay annual interest between 3.80% and 5.30%.

The first round of funding for Ngā Puninga Toi ā-Ahurea me ngā Kaupapa Cultural Installations and Events has opened.

The new money brings the total amount loaned to the airline by the Govt to $1.5bn. 

Funds provided over three years as part of wider arts and culture Covid-19 recovery programme.

Total $105,000 available, with $25,000 for early-stage projects.

The regions hardest-hit by the slump in international tourism will get priority.

Waka Kāpiti Limited one of five to receive funds in the area for 2021.

The new $5m Glacier Country Business Support Fund aims to protect communities in the hard hit region.

Tourism minister Stuart Nash outlines his vision for tourism once international visitors returns which would include policy and sectoral changes.

The Southern Lakes Events Investment Panel has opened applications for its Business Events Incentive Scheme.

Hawke’s Bay produce exporter Te Mata Exports has partnered with Te Mata Park to help fund their Revegetation Project.

A South Westland project has received $45m in support of the country’s goal to be predator free by 2050.

Kiwi operators also working across the Tasman say it’s frustrating facing the NZ Govt’s attitude.

Nineteen events are collectively set to attract 72,301 out-of-region visitors and pump an additional $18.4m of visitor spend into the region.

The government has injected $950,000 in support of the 8th World Conference of the International Working Group on Women in Sport in Auckland in 2022.

The ministry appears to have provided advice to ministers on only two of the three tourism businesses.

The cash would come from a $128m fund managed by DWC trustees and established in 2001 when the region lost its indigenous forestry industry.

MBIE said it was satisfied with the process “given the pace and urgency in which it was delivered”.

Kaitiaki Adventures will be able to redeploy up to 19 of its staff into Jobs for Nature projects.

Businesses affected by the latest Covid-19 alert level shifts can today apply for the government’s Resurgence Support Payment.

Parliament has passed a new Resurgence Support Payment available to eligible businesses affected by Auckland’s latest Covid-19 lockdown and level 2.

The tourism minister says those who rely on foreign tourists may need to have “very hard conversations” with creditors and employees.

Support packages awarded to a select number of predominantly large tourist operators were “totally biased and very unjust”.

The Government has approved funding for 22 new low-emission transport projects.

How the Auditor-General’s inquiry could help some who missed out on support.

Employers can receive a $350 payment from the Government if their employees cannot work from home while awaiting a Covid-19 test result.

New Zealand’s hospitality sector could look to South Australia’s voucher system to boost the economy, says the South Australian Tourism Commission.

John Ryan says he was prompted to act by concerns raised by operators and the amount of public funding involved.

The former operator says the biggest priorities for the Regional Tourism Organisation at the moment “are around trying to help businesses in the industry here survive”.

Investment plans for the government’s $50m Regional Events Fund have been signed off, with nine International Marketing Alliances across the country now ploughing ahead with proposals.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts says it is now working with potential investors, who could end up buying half the business.

The government needs to make available a $200m rescue package for operators reliant on international visitors, or see many wind-up and close permanently.

The Wairarapa Moana Wetlands will receive a $3.5m boost from Jobs for Nature funding to scale up restoration efforts.

The ski field operator is offering up half its business for a strategic investor to help develop opportunities.

Creative and cultural event organisers will be able to apply for a funding boost when the Creative and Cultural Events Incubator Fund opens on 1 February.

Applications for the first round of the $8.5m Southern Lakes Regional Events Fund are now open.

The Government will invest $3.75m in a North Island tourism alliance aimed at developing events for visitors along the Thermal Explorer Highway.

Tourism minister Stuart Nash is told further help for the sector could “distort incentives”.

The estimated cost of the redevelopment was $165m and is a key project in the Southland Regional Development Strategy Action Plan.

By region, Otago, Bay of Plenty and Canterbury secure the most money from the programme.

Tak Mutu’s MDA Experiences is the penultimate operator to secure funding from the programme.

The ongoing closure of the Milford and Routeburn tracks has the Fiordland economy $1m out of pocket, says Destination Fiordland manager Madeleine Peacock. 

Destination Wairarapa GM Anna Nielson says community sentiment towards tourism was positive, with strong bookings in place for the summer season.

Regulation to manage supply and price inefficiencies are among mooted recommendations from the Tourism Futures Taskforce.

The new tourism minister says he wants to move forward rather than look back at how funding was allocated.

Tourism is facing nearly $13bn in lost spending due to the border closures.

TCDC has sought public feedback on how important it is that council continues investing in promoting tourism.

WellingtonNZ received enough registrations to fully allocate the Covid-19 Business and Tourism Transitions funding.

The Government’s Provincial Growth Fund is providing $527,250 to replace the freshwater system at the Matauri Bay Holiday Park.