Technology

The government has signed agreements with three of the country’s major telcos to extend 5G services to around 55 regional and rural towns.

STAAH and B2B travel provider Travepic have partnered in an effort to provide a distribution system that generates higher revenue and profits for accommodation providers.

Techweek is returning to regions around New Zealand this May to showcase homegrown innovation and technology.

The government’s connectivity initiatives to boost the number of mobile towers has brought mobile coverage to 114 tourism spots, as of December 2022.

A new mobile app showcases the history and legacy of the Northland town of Paihia.

New AI tools and insights could help the sector become more efficient and responsive.

Online experiences can help win customers and alleviate staffing and seasonality challenges, says an operator.

Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa Outdoor Access Commission is providing funding and support for further developments to Mountain Safety Council’s (MSC) Plan My Walk app.

The Sustainable Business Network is leading the charge in helping companies assess the sustainability of their businesses with the launch of a free online toolbox.

The government has approved a loan of up to $1.25m to hospitality software company Loaded Reports.

The future of boarding passes could soon be written on passengers’ faces as Air New Zealand looks to digitise the process through biometric facial recognition technology.

Digital city guide Concrete Playground has launched an e-commerce travel platform aimed at young travellers across New Zealand and Australia.

Air New Zealand, Christchurch Airport, Sounds Air and Wellington Airport have been appointed to a 21-member Industry Advisory Board that will oversee the development of a new electric airplane.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Facebook owner Meta have partnered to hold an in-person digital workshop in Queenstown.

Although tourism in the metaverse cannot replace a real-world experience, technology has the power to share sites that are not easily accessible or completely ignored.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Meta, the company behind Facebook, will run digital skills workshops in Queenstown and Rotorua in September.

More than 30,000 small businesses have taken advantage of the government’s Digital Boost programme, which aims to support the uptake of digital tools and e-commerce.

New Zealand-based hotel software company Preno will open its first office in London to support and reach new customers in the UK market.

A free wifi service will launch in central Christchurch, aimed at making the city a desirable place for locals and visitors and to support the local tourism sector by attracting events and conferences.

A new travel-focused digital platform has launched to connect content creators with consumers.

New technologies mean tourists are able to explore a destination without ever setting foot. Is this future of tourism a reality or simply science fiction? Victoria University of Wellington tourism management PhD student Naji Gharibi takes a look.

One of the country’s iconic tourism businesses suffers an “incredibly disruptive” cyberattack.

The business travel booking platform is also eyeing acquisitions to drive growth.

The Waitaki region has a new virtual hub providing free images of the region, which local operators can use to promote tours, accommodation or other services.

More and more Kiwi operators are going virtual to find new markets.

Southern Cross Travel Insurance is launching a chatbot named Scout as it prepares for an increase in future travel bookings.

Cloud-based channel management and accommodation booking engine firm STAAH has become a New Zealand FernMark licensee, certifying that it is a New Zealand-based technology company.

Ziptrek Ecotours will launch what it calls a ‘world first’ zipline experience incorporating enhanced augmented reality.

The tool allowed virtual planners to navigate their way around popular islands such as Rarotonga and Aitutaki from a computer, tablet or mobile device.

The tool is designed to activate domestic tourism and incentivise Kiwis to try new things and share their experiences on social channels.

Air New Zealand has received approval from the Civil Aviation Authority to proceed with full RNP AR operations on its ATR turboprop flights into and out of Queenstown Airport.

Regional Tourism Organisations were able to submit two bingo cards free of charge to the platform.

Candice Pardy is behind the Jobloads app, whose business idea came from the challenges she faced trying to find a reliable labour supply for her Gisborne persimmon orchard.

More than $1.36m in credit has been redeemed by Air New Zealand customers via the airline’s new online credit redemption tool, which went live yesterday.

Tourism marketing company Tomahawk has taken on GO Rental’s entire app team of eight staff to help develop a new product designed to boost New Zealand tourism.

The Great NZ Roadtrip would be a “one-stop shop” to search for local activities and places to stay, priced from from $15 per month for users. 

The tour operator has launched the first in a series of virtual tours, showcasing highlights of its Wilderness Experience tour of the Waitakere Ranges in Auckland.

Avis Budget Group will enable customers renting in New Zealand to confirm a vehicle condition in real-time.

The Accessible Day Out library provides reviews of venues and activities around New Zealand with a focus on their accessibility features.

Experience Co has selected Queenstown-based IBIS Technology as its tourism business systems software provider for the company’s skydiving operations in both New Zealand and Australia.

A new travel booking site has launched this week with a no-commission model in a bid to get income flowing into New Zealand’s tourism industry.

Roadtrip app CamperMate has experienced a surge in users over the past month with New Zealanders itching to get on the road, says chief executive Nick Baker.

Plummeting demand for passenger and recreational vehicle rentals due to the tourism shutdown looks set to continue for quite some time, according to Westpac.

Driver guide platform Road Guru has developed a new website allowing people to buy vouchers from their favourite New Zealand tourism experiences in an effort to support the hard-hit sector.

The 85km Old Ghost Road on the South Island’s West Coast has been captured to create an interactive 360-degree virtual tour for Google Earth Voyage.

A free tool has been launched to help businesses boost their digital know-how, including guidance on remote working, e-commerce, and increasing their online presence.

Air New Zealand is trialling new computer vision artificial intelligence to help improve on-time performance.

The future of voice technology and the emergence of “super-apps” are two trends being closely watched by Tourism New Zealand, as disruption of the global travel sector continues.

Three electric vehicle charging stations are coming to Queenstown Lakes, as the council looks to support the growing use of EVs in the area.

NZ tourism brochure company VisitorPoint has partnered with Adventium Technology to allow seamless ordering from the Australian-based platform’s TravelDesk.