Economic development agency and regional tourism organisation Whanganui & Partners is being shut down, with its work being absorbed into Whanganui District Council.
First-time Labour MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel will take on tourism and hospitality and govt minister Matt Doocey.
It’s a new era for tourism, with industry leaders like TIA’s Rebecca Ingram keen to work “with all the ministers that have responsibilities that intersect with our important industry”.
Matt Doocey’s appointment to the tourism and hospitality portfolio has pleased tourism sector stakeholders, even if his previous experience did not make him an obvious choice.
The MP for Waimakariri will lead the renamed tourism and hospitality portfolio.
The new govt is expected to name its ministers today, with many in the sector hoping for a high-ranking appointment to the tourism portfolio.
The industry must set priorities and work collaboratively with govt if it wants change, writes HCA’s James Doolan.
McFadgen also believes current decarbonisation settings are hurting the automotive industry.
BCA’s briefing for incoming ministers will offer fresh thinking about the bus and coach sector, says the association’s CEO.
The CEO says she would be “very concerned” if the tourism portfolio was allocated to a smaller party.
An investment in Ohakea’s airforce base would also support airlines landing there as an “alternate” inbound airport, says O’Brien.
The association’s CEO says many of its members will feel positive about the result.
BEIA’s boss says it is also about the additional benefits the business events sector brings to NZ.
TIA’s Rebecca Ingram, like all of the sector’s leaders, calls for a high-ranking tourism minister.
Labour barely addressed the sector’s needs during its campaign, writes the Ticker’s Paul Yandall.
An IVL review, a new Great Walk, and more value on Māori are among the pledges that have been made during the campaign.
The industry group lays out the tourism challenges it wants the next govt to tackle.
The Labour Party has released its first climate manifesto that outlines how the party will progress its emissions reduction goals.
The National Party is promising to revive international education by improving visa processing and expanding work rights if it becomes the government following the 14 October election.
The finance spokespeople from the four major parties stake out their positions on the proposal.
Labour and National’s tourism priorities have received a mixed reception from the sector with more detail top of the wishlist for stakeholder groups.
The country’s major political parties are making ambiguous tourism promises but Labour’s fixation on ‘high value’ could be detrimental to the youth and hostel sector, writes BYATA chair Haydn Marriner.
The Labour Party has pledged to boost New Zealand’s premium tourism offering in its economic plan for the country.
The National Party has promised a new Great Walk in Canterbury, longer Department of Conservation concessions, and more flexible working visas with faster processing.
Tackling visa delays and creating more sustainable funding for tourism were among the issues explored by a panel of politicians.
The party says a ‘Huts of Recreational Importance’ initiative will help maintain accommodation on the DOC estate.
Kiri Allan has resigned from all her ministerial positions after being charged with reckless driving and resisting arrest.
New Zealand’s major political parties will take the hot seat to discuss tourism in a new forum by Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Wellington Airport.
A minister of hospitality is among the requests to the government elected on 14 October in Hospitality New Zealand’s election manifesto.
Tourism Minister Peeni Henare on what drives his politics and his priorities for the portfolio.
The National Party says Tourism Minister Peeni Henare is undermining tourism operators for suggesting they should lower their prices for domestic visitors and charge internationals more.
The National Party’s Joseph Mooney has taken over the tourism portfolio following a reshuffle caused by Todd Muller’s decision to not stand at the general election in October.
Tourism spokesperson Todd McClay says the Nats will ease immigration rules and scrap median wage requirements to help operators.
The associate tourism minister takes charge of the portfolio, replacing Stuart Nash.
Chris Hipkins has taken over as New Zealand’s 41st prime minister after being sworn in today by Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro.
Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has stepped in as acting Minister of Police and Jan Tinetti as acting Minister of Education.
Tourism stakeholders praise Jacinda Ardern’s contribution to New Zealand’s profile on the world stage.
The 2023 General Election will be held on Saturday 14 October and advance voting will start on Monday 2 October.
McClay now holds the opposition tourism, trade, and hunting and fishing portfolios.
New Zealand Māori Tourism chair Dale Stephens will run as the Christchurch Central candidate for the National Party in the 2023 general election after being selected by local members.
Labour’s inaction has left the tourism and hospitality sectors facing a critical shortage of workers and risks leaving struggling business poorer, McClay says.
The Royal Commission will start considering evidence in February and conclude in mid-2024, with a report to follow.
Shadow tourism spokesperson Todd McClay calls it “little more than hot air” that does not help struggling operators.
National’s tourism spokesperson Todd McClay has criticised the length of time the government is taking to launch the $54m Innovation Programme for Tourism Recovery.
Fiordland businesses are suffering at the hands of the government’s changes to the working holiday visa and skilled migrant categories, says National Party Southland MP Joseph Mooney.
McClay said the wait time for visitor visas is now so bad that INZ has removed the standard processing times from its website.
ACT Party leader David Seymour is calling for the government to remove all vaccination requirements because he believes they are preventing visitors from returning to New Zealand.
A new national register of self-contained vehicles accessible by the public will be established, says Tourism Minister Stuart Nash.
The National Party has criticised the government’s Industry Transformation Plan for tourism as having little impact on the current staff shortages the sector is facing.
The National Party is calling on Stuart Nash to rescind his “damaging” comments about backpackers, who the tourism minister has implied are not valuable visitors for New Zealand.
