'The reo is your reo too'Plans are under way to get everyone in Auckland speaking te reo Māori. The new Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Languages Strategy aims for all Aucklanders to be multi-lingual in English, Māori and a third language. The plan,
spearheaded by COMET Auckland, was launched at the University of Auckland last week. Chief executive Susan Warren said 160 languages were spoken in Auckland. Read more here.
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Expedia's New Zealand boss speaks out on competition fearsOnline booking company Expedia has rejected claims it dominates the New Zealand market and holds local companies to ransom. And while the US-based multinational pays almost no tax here, its local boss says it brings other benefits. Last year the Commerce Commission gave Expedia clearance to buy Australian rival Wotif. Hoteliers were concerned the new owner would hike commissions, which previously averaged about 12 per cent. Read more here.
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Malaysia and Thailand Trade Mission, August 2016ExportNZ, in partnership with the ASEAN NZ Business Council, is planning a mission to Malaysia and Thailand in August 2016. This is an opportunity to participate in a co-ordinated visit with a structured programme of business briefings, company visits, networking evets and one-on-one meetings. To register your interest or to find out more, contact Catherine Lye -
catherine@exportnz.org.nz
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Te Kete Tikanga MāoriThe New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) Te Kete Tikanga Māori is an introduction to Māori culture and some of its key phrases, customs and songs. The kete includes commonly used words and phrases, some basic written greetings, and helpful tips such as how to greet visiting business delegations, and steps for a basic powhiri. To aid pronunciation, audio guides are also provided: simply touch on any Māori word, phrase or song to hear it said out loud.
Download the app here.
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How many tourists are too many tourists?
It's a question that people who live in New Zealand's most beautiful and popular spots eventually have to grapple with. Now it's the turn of the residents of Hahei in the Coromandel. Cathedral Cove attracts thousands of tourists every day and a new coastal walking track is expected to increase visitor numbers and tensions in the community. "Currently Cathedral Cove has visitors of around 150,000 people per year," says Hahei Beach Ratepayers
Association chairman Bill Stead. "It's growing by 15,000 more people every year." Read more here.
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$23.5 million plan uses money from lodger's taxThe plan starts with upgrades to Civic Plaza to make the area more attractive to visitors and businesses, said Mayor Richard Berry. His plan calls for $23.5 million in improvements, but the city will not have to raise taxes or impose any fees. The money is already there in the city's treasury, collected from the city's lodger's tax. People who stay in
Albuquerque hotels pay the fee, and the city can only use the money for tourism marketing and building facilities used for tourism. "Our economy is on the upswing; our lodger's taxes are on the upswing," Berry said. Read more here.
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