2016 Tourism New Zealand Checklist:1. Make sure your listing on Tourism New Zealand
is up to date with where you are, who are you, and what you offer. 2. Tourism New Zealand have a team in Auckland that provides great content to encourage media to come to New Zealand, then go back and talk about it. Keeping the Auckland-based PR team up to date with what you are offering is a good way of ensuring your stories are being told. The trade team distributes product updates, features and newsletters to the international travel trade each month. To include something on your product, send any media releases and new product information to news@tnz.govt.nz
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My Town Series - Hawke's Bay community brings Māori & European togetherIn the southernmost part of Hawke's Bay, the small coastal township of Porangahau is home to the longest place name in the country. It's a predominantly Māori community, but as Richard Wynne-Lewis from the local sports club explains, "I think as a community we are combined really well, the European and
Māori have a great understanding of togetherness. We appreciate each other cultures." Keri Ropiha says Porangahau is different because Māori and European communities are willing to help each other. "We are far removed from everybody else. Out here you have to make the most of the resources you've got. So the biggest resource is the people we've got here, who love doing community things." Read more here.
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Cultural taboos on Mt Taranaki often ignoredNew Zealanders are more likely to disrespect Mt Taranaki than foreigners despite their awareness of cultural boundaries, a Department of Conservation ranger says. The recent discovery of several piles of human ash on tracks around the mountain have led to complaints about trampers not adhering to relevant Māori cultural guidelines.
Standing on the mountain's highest point in order to fully conquer it appears to be a frequent occurence among climbers. Read more here.
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Māori Language Week resources are now available online to order & download from here.
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Wishing you were here: Is tourism's success masking growing pains?Summer time and half the nation is on annual holiday. This year, if you are still out and about, it probably feels half the rest of the world is there with you too.
It is no secret that after a decade of somewhat sluggish growth, New Zealand tourism is booming – taking off, turning us into a rock star economy, like, err, dairy was doing about two years ago.
The boom started in 2013 when the developed nations, our traditional customers like the US, Japan and Europe, finally began shrugging off the effects of the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC). This coincided with the brand new phenomenon of an affluent Chinese middle class starting to explore the world in earnest. In 2015, New Zealand's tourism earnings jumped 10 per cent to hit nearly $30 billion. Half of our economic growth last year was driven by visitor traffic. And signs are 2016 is going to turn out even better. Read more here.
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Tourism New Zealand spent $1.2 million on media junkets to sell us to the worldChinese celebrities, a group of aspiring German models, and a British royal correspondent were among those who enjoyed whirlwind tours of New Zealand out of the taxpayer purse last year. Information obtained under the Official Information Act shows 261 media parties visited New Zealand during the 2015 financial
year on junkets paid for by Tourism New Zealand as part of its International Media Programme. The Crown entity's budget for the year was $1.2 million for New Zealand-based costs. International flights were often provided through airline partnerships, Tourism New Zealand general manager corporate affairs Deborah Gray said. Read more here.
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New Zealand’s First Ever Māori Start Up WeekendFrom February 19th through to February 21st 2016 come and test your business idea in a kaupapa Māori environment. It will bring together smart passionate people with the tools and approaches to help you create your own business. In just 54 hours you will connect, discover, learn and start. The Start Up Weekend is the first of a series of workshops designed to ignite entrepreneurial spark and to inspire and further develop thinking and knowledge for Māori Entrepreneurs. Read more here.
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Nearly 50,000 Chinese tourists arrive in NZ for February's Golden Week
Nearly 50,000 Chinese holidaymakers will shortly land in New Zealand as experts forecast the biggest "golden week" for Chinese tourists in our history. January and February are traditionally New Zealand's busiest and most lucrative tourism months but it is the growth in Chinese holiday visitors that is pushing the industry to new peaks. The so-called "golden week" starting February 7 coincides with the Chinese Lunar New Year
holiday week and China's middle class goes on the move. Read more here.
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Hokianga: Going for gold up northI'm a big fan of sports and I think it's wonderful to see golf and rugby sevens become part of the Olympics in Rio. I am quite convinced that if more people spend time up north, Hokianga to be precise, and invest in a good, solid boogie board, there'll become a big enough movement to push for another event. Dune surfing! This is probably the most addictive, family-friendly fun you will ever have while surfing - but be warned, you need a good pair of legs on you. On the edge of the Hokianga Harbour sits Opononi, a beautiful little seaside town with a good pub, great fish 'n' chip shop, The Landing Cafe, which serves the biggest breakfasts ever and a superb range of cakes, and my favourite statue. Read more here.
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Auckland: Exploring sacred islesWalking the tracks and climbing to the summit of Rangitoto can feel like a race against the clock at times, knowing you have to pace yourself to catch the return Fullers ferry, and choosing which walks you can cram into a day visit. Sometimes after I have made my way to the summit, I nip into the lava caves and then down to peaceful McKenzie Bay to look across to
Takapuna. Other day trips have taken me through the bush-lined track to the iconic baches at Issie Bay, and the beach beside the causeway joining the two islands. But now Te Haerenga Trails takes the guess work and watch-checking out of visiting the islands with their Ngai Tai guided Rangitoto Motutapu Haerenga (Journey through Sacred Islands) walks launched this summer. Read more here.
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