Politics

Tourism operators around the country need more support and more specifics as the loss of the Auckland market renders businesses untenable, says Todd McClay.

Opposition parties have released border re-opening plans that focus on a move away from eradication to containing Covid-19 but refrain from setting specific dates for lifting border restrictions.

The extension of Copvid-19 alert level 4 settings for Auckland and level 2 elsewhere into next week will be the final straw for many businesses, says National’s Todd McClay.

The ACT Party says progress on proof of Covid-19 vaccination for travel purposes is too slow and will run into problems with verification due to the lack of requirement to show identification during the inoculation process.

The National Party says the government does not understand the severity of conditions under the new level 2 rules that hospitality businesses face.

National Party spokesperson for tourism Todd McClay says the details of business support for some South Island regions released yesterday provide nothing new for struggling tourism operators.

A range of opposition spokespeople for portfolios related to tourism have been announced by the National Party following a reshuffle.

The ACT Party is proposing a fund for insuring major events as the effects of Covid-19 continue to threaten the sector.

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.

Around 42,000 Kiwis have signed the National Party’s call to open the trans-Tasman bubble petition.

Talks have moved from a joint decision making framework with Australia to “more of a unilateral approach”.

The National Party has launched a petition calling on the Government to get a move on with the trans-Tasman travel bubble.

The trans-Tasman bubble has been urged to open by opposition leader Judith Collins and Australian PM Scott Morrison shares her remarks.

Party leader Judith Collins says it will also help open up NZ’s stretched MIQ facilities.

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.

A Matariki public holiday could cost almost $450m, according to figures obtained by ACT leader David Seymour.

The Green Party has called on all political parties to embrace the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton’s Not 100% – but four steps closer to sustainable tourism report.

The Government must urgently redirect support to the ailing tourism sector, says National’s tourism spokesperson, Todd McClay.

The Government must immediately release its reports into how Covid infected three people at the Pullman Auckland, says National’s Covid response spokesperson, Chris Bishop.

The Government has “kneecapped” the tourism sector by causing the Le Lapérouse cruise ship to cancel its season, says the National Party.

National’s Chris Bishop said a Cook Islands bubble was taking far too long.

Former Air NZ boss Chris Luxon is ranked 30th out of 33 in the National Party’s new caucus.

National will amend the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to support wine tourism if they are elected into Government.

The National Party says in its ‘Supporting our tourism sector’ policy that it will help the industry rebuild.

STAPP, trans-Tasman travel, and even TNZ’s “dry” domestic campaign were canvassed in a lively event at the resort.

Tourism’s political heavyweights exchanged policy blows in two virtual encounters for media and industry.

The hospitality sector is paying a heavy price for the Government’s “bungling of the border”, says the National Party’s economic development spokesperson, Todd McClay.

National Party leader Judith Collins has unveiled the party’s BusinessStart policy to help Kiwis set up a small business.

The Green Party will establish an international visitor levy to provide funding for tourism upgrades in the regions, and protect the natural wonders that attract people to New Zealand.

Scoping work on a new harbour crossing would also begin if National won power in September, says the party’s new leader.

National’s political turmoil has had little impact on its tourism work, says the party’s spokesperson for the portfolio, Todd McClay.

National’s leader tried to build a political beachhead in tourism but it has been swamped.

The country’s top tourism priority must be getting trans-Tasman travel going again.

The struggles of tourism operators were used by the National Party to highlight shortcomings in the Government’s $12bn coronavirus financial support package.

The Employers & Manufacturers association has paid tribute to former prime minister, Mike Moore, saying NZ has lost a great champion for business, trade and tourism, international relations.

The leader of NZ’s newest political party outlines its views on NZ’s tourism industry.

Kelvin Davis rejects criticism from National that the Govt has been ‘distracted’ over the China-NZ Year of Tourism.

A ‘distracted’ Government has failed to deliver on China tourism, according to the National Party.

North Shore MP and former conservation minister Maggie Barry ONZM has announced she will retire from politics in 2020.

New Zealand’s business events sector should extend the concept of manaakitanga from caring for visitors to caring “for our own”, according to the associate minister of tourism, Peeni Henare.

Dive! Tutukaka founder Jeroen Jongejans is one of a number of well-known tourism industry names who have thrown their hats in the ring for October’s local body elections.

Former Tourism Export Council NZ chief executive Lesley Immink is planning to join Whakatāne’s mayoral race.

We at the Ticker didn’t think there was much for tourism in the appointment yesterday of National’s new leader Simon Bridges.