CongratulationsTo Jeanette Tobin at Asia Pacific Superyachts, who has been nominated as Business Person of the Year at the International Superyacht Society (ISS) Annual Awards of Distinction. ** Congratulations to the Tourism Industry Association New
Zealand (TIANZ) who won the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation Award at the 2015 AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards.
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20 things that surprise first-time visitors to New ZealandAustralian website Traveller.com.au has compiled a list of things they think will "shock" first time visitors to New Zealand. Instead of shocking travellers, many of the things listed may instead be shocking to Kiwis - especially that fact that New Zealand is not Australia.
Read the list here.
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Opportunity for Master of Arts or Design studentsEmily Carr University of Art + Design in Canada is offering two fully funded (Tuition, airfare, living expenses) scholarships for Māori applicants wanting to complete a Masters Degree (Master of Applied Art or Master of Design) at Emily Carr University of Art + Design starting in September 2016 (application deadline January 15, 2016). For more information and to apply, contact Brenda Crabtree at
bcrab@ecuad.ca
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Māori dimension the key to NZ’s international success New Zealand is dismal at telling its story to consumers in international markets and needs to emphasise the unique Māori dimension, says the Merino NZ chief executive and boot-camp leader John Brackenridge.
The 'clean green image' story is not unique to NZ; while we have a great environment, other countries can also claim this. "But we have our Māori culture and if you rake in things such as kaitiakitanga (guardianship), coupled with a strong Māori economy, this is something that nobody else has. We have an indigenous people who have fantastic assets and many of them are doing a great job in managing those assets." Read more here.
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China’s 13th Five Year Plan: 13 Things Foreign Businesses Should KnowLast week’s four-day Fifth Plenary Session in Beijing saw China’s leaders meet to determine the blueprint for China’s policies over the next five years. China has had an enviable track record of delivering on what it promises in each Five Year Plan, which is why their direction and policies are
significant for everyone doing business in China. This Five Year Plan is particularly important given China’s slowing economy and the lead-up to the 100-year anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China in 2021. Although the full details won’t be released until March next year, here are 13 highlights from the communique published following the session. Read more here.
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Turbulent waters a boon for NZ portsA luxury cruise industry veteran says New Zealand stands to benefit from global instability that is making cruising difficult in some parts of the world. Larry Pimentel, president and chief executive of Azamara Club Cruises, said the outlook for his company's parent, Royal Caribbean, was rosy with one rider. "Geopolitics - if anything that could derail, that's generally it." Azamara is Royal Caribbean's boutique line for high-end passengers and is coming to New Zealand waters during the next three summers, where he said there would be rapid growth in the coming years. Read more here.
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New Zealand's Great Walks added to Google MapsIt's the ultimate tool for the very laziest of armchair travellers of New Zealand - a 3D-view of some of the country's most famous tramping tracks. Over four years, imagery was collected using Street View Trekker, a wearable backpack outfitted with 360 degree cameras designed for locations accessible only by foot. In a collaboration between Google, the Department of Conservation and Air New Zealand, the technology was used to capture stunning 3D panoramic shots of the Milford, Kepler, Abel Tasman, Waikaremoana, Heaphy, Routeburn and Rakiura/Stewart Island tracks. Read more here.
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Hukafalls Jet celebrates 25 years at full throttleIconic jet boat operator Hukafalls Jet in Taupo has just turned 25 and celebrations are well under way. One of New Zealand's pioneer adventure tourism businesses, Hukafalls Jet has grown from a small wooden shed on the Waikato river to a thriving business. After opening its doors in 1990, the firm has blossomed from a one-boat operation, using a 'brick' of a cellphone and minimal staff, to a four-boat business with a purpose-built base, and more than 750,000 passengers through its doors. Read more here.
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Finding The Tourism Data You NeedWe are constantly bombarded with information – finding the data and research that is relevant to you and your business and how to interpret it; yet few of us have the time or the knowledge to do so, but know it’s important. MBIE and Stats NZ are the source of most our tourism data – this is what the government, councils, regional tourism
organisations and tourism businesses rely on. Thanks to RTONZ we spent a day at MBIE to find out more about this data, how it is collected, how it is interpreted, and how to find the data we need, along with representatives from RTOs around New Zealand. Read more here.
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Māori language finalists announcedDue to be held in Napier later this month, the awards celebrate those that have shown committment to the revitalisation of te reo Māori. This year awards will be hosted by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. There are 36 finalists in 13 categories, that include broadcasting, education, digital and the private sector.
Read more here.
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Sparks fly over new Kiwi electric bike
The Ubco 22 electric bike will be in production by Christmas with initial marketing aimed at New Zealand and Australia.
The bike is a quiet, lightweight, emission-free, off-road 22 that can carry tools and be used in an agricultural setting. Although the bike had been launched at Fieldays, potential buyers were looking at a range of applications. "The responses include tourism operators, and a lot of people from metro environments who are interested in a commuter
option. We will be moving very quickly to get road legal certification in New Zealand and Australia." Read more here.
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