Bid to change name of hill gathers speedThe debate over the name of the Rimutaka Hill has been reignited with a group advocating to officially name it the Remutaka Pass. Remutaka Pass Co-ordinating Group spokesman and former Masterton mayor Frank Cody said the group had recently submitted a proposal to the New Zealand Geographic Board. If successful, the Rimutaka Hill Rd could be renamed Remutaka Pass Rd, and the word Remutaka used to rename other geographical features in the area. Read more here.
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Poor Knights Islands: Something in the waterI can't say I wasn't warned. "If you feel seasick, head downstairs to the back of the boat where it's a calmer ride," our captain said as the boat lurched out of the marina. Two petite Asian girls stood up and awkwardly made for the stairs. I turned to my husband smugly and said:
"Look, they must be seasick already". Pride before a fall. At 20 weeks' pregnant, Sea Legs tablets were not an option. But there was no wind on this beautiful day as the Dive Tutukaka
boat with 60 tourists on board set out for the Poor Knights Islands. Despite the captain's mention of swells, I thought I would be okay. Read more here.
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Skyline Rotorua celebrates 30 yearsMore than 8 million people have enjoyed the views and activities at Skyline Rotorua, which celebrates its 30 year anniversary this week. Skyline's story began in 1981, when Skyline Enterprises founder Hylton Hensman purchased farmland on the city side of Mt Ngongotaha. Skyline Enterprises had been
operating a successful South Island gondola operation since 1967 and decided it was time for expansion. Construction began in Rotorua in 1984 with a Swiss-made Mueller gondola system being installed, along with a restaurant. Read more here.
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NZ summer fails to lure backpackersHotels, motels and backpackers had a quieter January compared with December, with total guest nights down 1.1 per cent. The biggest decline was for backpackers, with guest nights down 3.9 per cent in January compared with December, according to Statistics NZ. Motels were down 2.3 per cent in January,
but that followed a strong run of gains in the second half of 2014. Hotels were down only slightly, dipping just 0.6 per cent. Holiday parks ran against the tide, with guest nights up 1.7 per cent in January. Read more here.
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Māori Development Minister supports call for Te Matatini funding boostThe Māori Development Minister supports the call for consideration of more Government funding for Te Matatini. Te Ururoa Flavell told Native Affairs, he will continue to attempt to influence other Government Ministers to increase the support and funding provided to the world’s largest Māori Performing Arts Festival. Recent figures released by Māori Television show that over 1 million viewers tuned in to watch the online and television broadcast of the event this year. Thousands more also attend the biennial event. Read more here
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Christchurch's Port Hills adventure park gets realA new video offers a glimpse of the future of mountain biking in Christchurch. The Christchurch Adventure Park launch film, by Canadian developer Select Evolution, depicts what the $25m park on the Port Hills will have to offer adrenalin seekers. Commonwealth games mountain bike
champion Anton Cooper said the park would turn Christchurch into one of "the main centres and destinations for mountain biking". Read more here.
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