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Sunday 05 May 2024
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Rotorua

Operators aplenty up for Rotorua awards
4 Nov 2022  

Operators aplenty up for Rotorua awards

Eleven operators have made the shortlist at the 2022 Rotorua Business Awards.


Police, DOC urge people to choose outdoor adventures wisely
27 Oct 2022   /

Police, DOC urge people to choose outdoor adventures wisely

The warning comes after two people were rescued from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing on Sunday after they became exhausted and realised the track was beyond their abilities.


Police recover kayak during search for missing French tourist
27 Oct 2022   /

Police recover kayak during search for missing French tourist

Police have recovered a kayak during their search for a man missing on Lake Rotorua.


Destinations change mayors in sweeping local body elections
10 Oct 2022  

Destinations change mayors in sweeping local body elections

Rotorua and Queenstown are among the popular destinations that have new council leaders.


Newly named Te Pā Tū puts on a feast and a show
30 Sep 2022   /

Newly named Te Pā Tū puts on a feast and a show

Rotorua’s newly named Te Pā Tū is putting on two new seasonal kai and Māori culture experiences for visitors.


Whakarewarewa launches exclusive electric experience
30 Sep 2022   /

Whakarewarewa launches exclusive electric experience

Whakarewarewa – The Living Māori Village and Electric Bike Rotorua have partnered to offer an exclusive Whaka E-Bike Trail experience into previously non-accessible areas of the Whakarewarewa Valley Reserve.


Steve Chadwick: How Rotorua can reclaim its tourism mecca status
16 Sep 2022   /

Steve Chadwick: How Rotorua can reclaim its tourism mecca status

It is the end of an era for Rotorua’s mayor, but she leaves as the city grapples with social issues impacting the destination’s reputation.


Rotorua mountain bike visitors worth extra 600 jobs by 2026 – report
6 Sep 2022   /

Rotorua mountain bike visitors worth extra 600 jobs by 2026 – report

Mountain bikers could be generating more than $200m in annual visitor spend in the region in four years.


Refreshed Rotorua boardwalk open to public
24 Aug 2022   /

Refreshed Rotorua boardwalk open to public

The final stage of the boardwalk around Lake Rotorua is open to the public after almost a year under construction.


Learnings from the pandemic: Kiwis expect Māori tourism experiences to be free – Cossar
23 Aug 2022   /

Learnings from the pandemic: Kiwis expect Māori tourism experiences to be free – Cossar

Kiwis do not want to pay for Māori tourism experiences – they believe they should get them for free, says Te Puia’s Tim Cossar.


TECNZ picks Rotorua 2023, Invercargill 2024 for conferences
19 Aug 2022   /

TECNZ picks Rotorua 2023, Invercargill 2024 for conferences

Rotorua and Invercargill will host the next two Tourism Export Council of New Zealand annual conferences.


Whakarewarewa Village closes indefinitely after sinkhole accident
29 Jul 2022   /

Whakarewarewa Village closes indefinitely after sinkhole accident

Whakarewarewa Village is closed indefinitely while repairs are underway to fix a footpath sinkhole that severely burned an Australian tourist yesterday.


Q2 hotel room rates beat pre-Covid levels – Colliers
21 Jul 2022   /

Q2 hotel room rates beat pre-Covid levels – Colliers

The strong results, particularly in Rotorua, are being achieved despite occupancy still in recovery, says the agent. 


Crankworx secures $8m for Rotorua, Otago events…
13 Jul 2022   /

Crankworx secures $8m for Rotorua, Otago events…

The money from the Major Events Fund will support 30 mountain bike events over the next six years.


…while Thermal Explorer events share $1.3m funding
13 Jul 2022   /

…while Thermal Explorer events share $1.3m funding

More than 19 events across the Waikato, Rotorua, Taupō and Ruapehu regions have received almost $1.3m in the second round of the Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund.


Rangatira CEO on tourism’s top headwinds in the recovery
5 Jul 2022  

Rangatira CEO on tourism’s top headwinds in the recovery

Rainbow’s End and Polynesian Spa suffer a tough year with staffing challenges and cost inflation now putting pressure on prices.


Polynesian Spa CEO disappointed in “inaccurate” coroner’s report
21 Jun 2022  

Polynesian Spa CEO disappointed in “inaccurate” coroner’s report

The operator disputes some of the report’s statements over a customer fatality.


Polynesian Spa owner Rangatira sees profit fall, but NAV, valuation up
20 Jun 2022  

Polynesian Spa owner Rangatira sees profit fall, but NAV, valuation up

Polynesian Spa and Rainbow’s End owner Rangatira Investments says it will report net profit after tax of $9.1m for the year to March 2022, down 8% from the previous year.


EVENT rebrands MIQ facility, confirms new GM
16 Jun 2022  

EVENT rebrands MIQ facility, confirms new GM

EVENT Hospitality and Entertainment has rebranded Rydges Rotorua to Arawa Park Hotel, which will open on 1 July following an extensive refurbishment.


New experience sets sights on 24k domestics annually
31 May 2022  

New experience sets sights on 24k domestics annually

Rotorua Ziplines, a venture between an operator and local iwi, offers a 2.5-hour trip and a reforestation mission.


Skyline Rotorua opens new luge tracks
27 May 2022  

Skyline Rotorua opens new luge tracks

Skyline Rotorua has opened three new luge tracks, increasing its total number of courses on offer to five.


Polynesian Spa celebrates 50 years
17 May 2022  

Polynesian Spa celebrates 50 years

Polynesian Spa is celebrating its 50th year in business – a milestone occasion for what could arguably be called one of Rotorua’s most successful community and tourist attractions.


Border re-opening great for Rotorua – Chadwick
13 May 2022   /

Border re-opening great for Rotorua – Chadwick

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says New Zealand’s full border reopening on 31 July is great news for the city’s tourism and hospitality operators.


Rotorua, Central Otago trails added to Great Rides network
6 May 2022   /

Rotorua, Central Otago trails added to Great Rides network

Two new cycle trails in Rotorua and Central Otago will join the Ngā Haerenga Great Rides network, the first to be added in more than a decade.


EVENT expands Rotorua footprint with Holiday Inn takeover
3 May 2022   /

EVENT expands Rotorua footprint with Holiday Inn takeover

The NZ Super Fund jv appoints EVENT the new operator of the hotel.


Cultural comeback: Te Puia readies for international return
29 Mar 2022   /

Cultural comeback: Te Puia readies for international return

The Rotorua attraction is ramping up its international work but is realistic about the strength of the recovery.


Regional Recovery: Rotorua hungry but ‘realistic’ about Aus visitors
25 Mar 2022   /

Regional Recovery: Rotorua hungry but ‘realistic’ about Aus visitors

The destination’s operators are gearing up for Aus visitors but are realistic about numbers after the border opens.


Operators relieved, look to summer 2022-23 for revival
17 Mar 2022   /

Operators relieved, look to summer 2022-23 for revival

Tourism businesses welcome the new border re-opening dates but it will take months for many to enjoy the benefits.


Health warning issued for Lake Rotorua following algal bloom

Health warning issued for Lake Rotorua following algal bloom

Toi Te Ora Public Health has issued a public health warning for Lake Rotorua, following toxic blooms of blue-green algae.


“The reality is stark” – Waimangu Valley’s new GM
2 Mar 2022  

“The reality is stark” – Waimangu Valley’s new GM

But a proposed new Great Walk through the area could be an “exciting” boost, says Adam Hughes.


Ngāi Tahu’s Rainbow Springs confirms closure
1 Mar 2022   /

Ngāi Tahu’s Rainbow Springs confirms closure

The iconic tourism attraction will close its doors for good in September.


Kiwi operators plead for help as Omicron halts domestic travel…
21 Feb 2022   /

Kiwi operators plead for help as Omicron halts domestic travel…

Tourism businesses across the country say they are struggling to stay alive as the Omicron wave comes crashing down on New Zealand.


Ngāi Tahu’s Rainbow Springs preparing to close permanently
15 Feb 2022   /

Ngāi Tahu’s Rainbow Springs preparing to close permanently

The iconic Rotorua tourism attraction is planning to close its doors 90 years after opening.


Secret is out for hot tub operator, but another is in the works
8 Feb 2022   /

Secret is out for hot tub operator, but another is in the works

One of the secrets to the success of Secret Spot Hot Tubs in Rotorua is the fact that it opened just a few months before Covid-19 struck.


Redwoods Treewalk wins Rotorua business supreme award
8 Feb 2022   /

Redwoods Treewalk wins Rotorua business supreme award

Redwoods Treewalk & Nightlights has won the supreme award at the 2021 Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards.


SkyCity Casino Hamilton a location of interest
2 Feb 2022   /

SkyCity Casino Hamilton a location of interest

SkyCity Casino Hamilton has been named a Covid-19 location of interest after a Covid-19 case visited between 5.33pm-6.38pm on Tuesday 25 January.


Queenstown, Rotorua make 100 “most loved” destinations
31 Jan 2022  

Queenstown, Rotorua make 100 “most loved” destinations

Rotorua and Queenstown have been included in the 100 most loved destinations in the Tourism Sentiment Index.


…but activities boom in busy Rotorua, Taupō despite silver dollar drag
17 Jan 2022   /

…but activities boom in busy Rotorua, Taupō despite silver dollar drag

The recent fine weather is proving just the medicine for tourist-starved operators with outdoor offerings in Rotorua and Taupo, with one operator setting a new visitor record.


Auckland return: some see immediate bump, others ‘wait and hope’…
15 Dec 2021   /

Auckland return: some see immediate bump, others ‘wait and hope’…

Operators in traditional summer destinations report good interest but those further afield are waiting.


Tourism attractions drag Rangatira interims
15 Dec 2021  

Tourism attractions drag Rangatira interims

Rangatira Investments says it saw better than expected earnings across its private businesses for the six months to September 2021, except from its tourism attractions.


Redwoods Treewalk lights up for Xmas
9 Dec 2021  

Redwoods Treewalk lights up for Xmas

The Redwood Forest near Rotorua has been lit by a 9-metre-tall light installation heralding in the Christmas season.


Operators back adventure tourism qualification
3 Dec 2021   /

Operators back adventure tourism qualification

Around 20 operators are involved in reviving an adventure tourism qualification at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s Rotorua campus in a bid to meet a shortage of outdoor tourism staff.


NZ Tourism Awards: Kiwi Hatchery looks to virtual, VIP for growth

NZ Tourism Awards: Kiwi Hatchery looks to virtual, VIP for growth

The National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa at Rotorua’s Rainbow Springs Nature Park has seen a substantial increase in brown kiwi chicks but a big fall in visitor numbers since the pandemic struck.


NZ Tourism Awards: MDA revisits past with eye on future
23 Nov 2021  

NZ Tourism Awards: MDA revisits past with eye on future

With the international market drying up, tourism and event company MDA Experiences decided to go back to it roots as a community driven operator.


“It’s been a long time since we had a rush of reservations”
18 Nov 2021   /

“It’s been a long time since we had a rush of reservations”

Bookings jump for operators like The Rees while others breathe a sigh of relief but all seek more details to help plan for Auckland’s return.


Tamaki Māori Village owner appoints head of tourism
9 Nov 2021   /

Tamaki Māori Village owner appoints head of tourism

Tauhara North Tourism has appointed Kiri Atkinson-Crean its head of tourism.


Rotorua’s Agrodome to return from hibernation
4 Nov 2021   /

Rotorua’s Agrodome to return from hibernation

Ngai Tahu’s Agrodome attraction in Rotorua is re-opening its doors after being in hibernation for the past 18 months.


Covid hits cultural attractions hard but Te Puia determined to build back better
20 Oct 2021   /

Covid hits cultural attractions hard but Te Puia determined to build back better

The pandemic has forced cultural attractions like Te Puia to make changes with a new approach taken towards domestic visitors.


Regional operators fear further hit with Waikato lockdown
4 Oct 2021  

Regional operators fear further hit with Waikato lockdown

The loss of the Waikato market will whittle down already slim pickings for operators in neighbouring regions, already bracing for an absent Auckland market.


Ngāi Tahu Tourism appoints Blackmore to lead Agrodome
4 Oct 2021  

Ngāi Tahu Tourism appoints Blackmore to lead Agrodome

Ngāi Tahu Tourism has appointed David Blackmore to lead the operator’s Agrodome attraction in Rotorua.