Local Government

Bed taxes and visitor levies have been identified as potential revenue sources for local governments to support the funding of infrastructure needed to accommodate tourism.

Auckland Museum is asking for feedback on its Draft Annual Plan for the fiscal year to end-June 2023.

The $1.3bn programme will help move the country up the value chain for when tourists return, says DOC’s Lou Sanson.

The EDA has international spending in the region for the year to March 2021 had dropped 93% to just $6m compared with $86m in the previous fiscal year.

One of the key challenges for RTOs is making sure government funding does not run out at the end of 2022.

The development of the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s hospitality and tourism technology cluster is currently in a “discovery phase”, says leader of the project Kevin Sharpe.

Smaller regional tourism organisations are leveraging their weight differently in the post-Covid world.

The Hastings and Ōpōtiki district councils have been awarded the top prizes at this year’s Local Government New Zealand Excellence Awards show in Blenheim.

About $10m of the latest deployment is going to five regions hit hard by the lack of international tourists.

Tourism organisations and RTOs are urged to put the Māori at the centre of the visitor experience.

An advocacy group wants an inquiry into the freedom camping situation in New Zealand after a related members’ bill on the matter was picked from the ballot last week.

Tourism operators in South Waikato say they support leaving the region’s RTO and hope that forging their own path will lead to better outcomes.

South Waikato District Council goes it alone claiming it doesn’t get good bang for buck.

Heavy-hitting investors could help diversify Queenstown’s tourism-led economy.

The public-private plan for tourism – the biggest effort yet to reshape the sector – will now never be realised.

Queenstown Lakes District Council is taking legal advice after the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) challenged the Freedom Camping Bylaw 2019.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development has paused selected marketing activity, and is not replacing non-essential vacant roles as part of a cost-cutting drive following the year-long suspension of the APTR.

Around 75 tourism and hospitality businesses are in line for a QLDC rent reprieve.

A lockdown track etiquette reminder has been issued by Queenstown Lakes District Council.

The Productivity Commission has stepped back from its support of local bed taxes to help pay for infrastructure in tourism hotspots – a recommendation included in its draft report in July.

Craig Mackle is the official new mayor of Kaikoura, squeezing out John Diver by 12 votes.

Kathy Guy was among a number of candidates with tourism backgrounds standing for office.

While some new faces will be leading the country’s local councils, most notably in Wellington, across New Zealand’s tourist hotspots, familiar faces dominated.

The holiday park stalwart on why destination management is a priority for the Marlborough region.

Dive! Tutukaka owner Jeroen Jongejans on why he is standing.

Senior lecturer in hotel and tourism management Dr Anthony Brien tells us why he is standing.

Former TECNZ chief executive Lesley Immink tells us why she is running for mayor.

The former Destination Rotorua GM plans to tackle a number of industry issues if elected to council.

It’s local elections time and the Ticker catches up with candidates from industry. First up, Q&A with Kathy Guy.