Tourism Minister

Peeni Henare is meeting government tourism officials today as he gets to work on the portfolio.

The associate tourism minister takes charge of the portfolio, replacing Stuart Nash.

While industry associations have welcomed Peeni Henare to his new role as tourism minister, some operators took to social media to express their displeasure at the implications for tourism.

We need to work together to drive the growth that we know we can deliver, says the tourism minister.

A wet start to 2023 followed by the impacts of Cyclone Hale has hurt holiday hotspots like Northland, Hawke’s Bay and Coromandel, but government support for affected operators is not in the pipeline.

The tourism minister says success in the sector in NZ is not about visitor numbers.

The tourism minister says attracting world-class events and living up to and protecting NZ’s clean, green image are helping the recovery.

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.

New Zealand and Australian trade and tourism ministers have reaffirmed their commitment to boosting trans-Tasman cooperation.

It could have raised up to $444m annually to support tourism, conservation, and to help tackle climate change.

The tourism minister says INZ is under “a great deal of stress” coping with demand as NZ ramps up its promotion.

The sector needs to be innovative in the way it markets itself, particular to those flying longhaul, says the tourism minister.

The tourism minister notes “challenging questions” over the funding and execution of the tourism ITP.

The ITP recommends eight actions to improve the sector’s workforce.

The tourism minister says the industry should apply for the new $54m innovation fund and suggests a project he would be happy to support.

There’s an opportunity to tell our stories better not only to overseas markets but to ourselves as well, says the tourism minister.

But it’s too early to say what shape govt support may take in the future, says the tourism minister.

The tourism minister highlights the challenges ahead for the sector but also signals the start of a new positive phase.

The tourism minister outlines how he wants the Innovation Programme for Tourism Recovery to be prioritised.

Tourism has to build back better and that means changes to the way things have been done in the past, says the tourism minister.

How cruise managed the pandemic will be studied for years, says the tourism minister.

The tourism minister will attend TNZ’s Regional Showcase in Sydney to spread the message that NZ is open for business.

The tourism minister’s comments could derail “the most transformational mahi anyone in tourism has ever seen”.

In his opening address at the Tourism Policy School, the tourism minister challenges the industry to do better.

Reconnecting New Zealand is not just the name of a govt strategy, it’s an absolute must-do for tourism in 2022, writes the minister.

MIQ should be scrapped for double-vaccinated arrivals now, says the National Party.

After a difficult last week for tourism, we asked the tourism minister to address industry concerns – here’s his reply.

The hospitality industry was in the stages of a nascent recovery in the months leading up to the current lockdown, according to Stuart Nash.

Key meetings attended by tourism minister Stuart Nash since taking up the portfolio in November 2020 include those with various taskforce bodies, local councils and industry representatives.

The tourism minister also wants to see an expansion of differential pricing across the sector for international visitors.

More recovery than regenerative, the plan introduces yet another initiative to reimagine tourism.

The tourism sector has welcomed the new strategy praising its targeted support for operators, regions and its transformation initiative.

Inbounders, RTOs, and the Queenstown and Milford areas are among those supported.

There is a lot to unpick in tourism minister Stuart Nash’s new plan for the sector and below is his full speech delivered to TRENZ Hui 2021 at the Christchurch Town Hall.

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

The minister ditches the Tourism Futures Taskforce weeks before it was due to complete its work “re-imagining” tourism.

Tourism minister Stuart Nash has taken three briefings specifically related to bed taxes, says the ACT Party.

The tourism minister defends his TPS speech and says he did announce new support for the sector.

Nash says he is “deeply concerned” about the situation unfolding in these five destinations.

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

Queenstown’s “economic earthquake” rally planned for tourism minister Stuart Nash’s visit to the resort today has been cancelled after he declined the invitation to attend.

Queenstown locals will hold a rally on Friday to express the “true crises” in the region and welcome tourism minister Stuart Nash to the struggling resort.

Scenic Hotel Group hibernates hotels and accuses the tourism minister of “throwing businesses under the bus”.

But the tourism minister says the Govt is looking at “innovative ways to allow businesses to hibernate”.

The Government believes it needs around 70% of the population immunised before borders will re-open to long haul travel and that could take six to nine months, according to tourism minister Stuart Nash.

The Government must provide targeted support for struggling Fiordland and Glacier Country operators, says the National Party.

Tourism minister Stuart Nash faced criticism in Parliament over his “very hard conversations” comments directed at tourism operators.

The tourism minister says “the full cost of tourism” should be priced into the visitor experience.

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

The tourism minister says the Auditor-General is the right person to conduct the inquiry.