Today's Tourism News

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3 February 2012

TIA members in the news
Costs and safety top tunnel venture concerns - Southland Times - 3rd Feb 2012
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has outlined the key points of its submission on a contentious private tunnel venture that has pitted southern communities against the project's big...

Rotorua moteliers slam high council charges - Rotorua Daily Post - 2nd Feb 2012
Some Rotorua moteliers are refusing to pay a council fee for building inspections, claiming the council is double dipping and charging outrageous fees for simple jobs.

Tourists play smart with new app - Nelson Mail - 2nd Feb 2012
Visitors to the Nelson-Tasman region now have a new way to learn about the region, with a new smartphone app packed full of information for tourists.

Operators get Clifford Bay plan survey - Marlborough Express - 2nd Feb 2012
Marlborough businesses are expected to get the chance to have their say on the Clifford Bay ferry terminal proposal from today.

Chinese visitors keep resort busy - Otago Daily Times - 3rd Feb 2012
Queenstown businesses reported an increase in the number of Chinese visitors last week and early this week, as the resort experienced a "record Chinese New Year".

Trampers asked to use website - Marlborough Express - 2nd Feb 2012
People heading into the Marlborough great outdoors are being encouraged to log their plans on a website since the Department of Conservation dropped its system of intention forms.

Overflowing Te Papa looks for display space - Dominion Post - 3rd Feb 2012
The national museum is full to the gunwales and the bill to create extra space for the nation's treasures is expected to top $30 million.

Airlines & airports
Chch airport project for ex-CEO - Otago Daily Times - 3rd Feb 2012
Fomer Real Journeys chief executive Dave Hawkey has been recruited to work on an initiative by Christchurch International Airport to boost South Island tourism.

Pieces fall off Jetstar plane - Otago Daily Times - 2nd Feb 2012
Jetstar has notified the Civil Aviation Authority after a small panel fell off a plane flying from Auckland to Christchurch on Tuesday.

Baby's toe sliced - Dominion Post - 3rd Feb 2012
The tip of a baby's toe was sliced off when its parents tried to stow away their in-flight entertainment screen on an Air New Zealand flight from Sydney.

Around NZ
Capital ready for Sevens surge - Dominion Post - 2nd Feb 2012
Hotels are at full occupancy and bars are doubling staff numbers as the city's hospitality industry prepares for an influx of Sevens-goers this weekend.

Ship visit proves a hit - Timaru Herald - 3rd Feb 2012
Cash registers were ringing as the Seven Seas Voyager berthed at the Port of Timaru yesterday, setting a course for more visits as the region establishes itself as a cruise-ship destination.

French victim of sexual assault receives apology on behalf of NZ - New Zealand Herald - 2nd Feb 2012
A French woman who was kidnapped and sexually assaulted while hitchhiking from Taupo to Napier has received an apology on behalf of all New Zealanders.

Delay on Manawatu Gorge re-opening - Wairarapa Times-Age - 2nd Feb 2012
The Manawatu Gorge will not reopen to motorists until mid year - about a year after it was blocked by a major slip.

Theatre project set to fail unless $23m turns up - New Zealand Herald - 3rd Feb 2012
The curtain is set to fall on a $41 million theatre project on the waterfront unless the Auckland Theatre Company can raise $23 million in three months.

Heritage buildings faceaxe - Wanganui Chronicle - 2nd Feb 2012
Not all of Wanganui's heritage buildings will be saved from destruction. That was the word from Wanganui District Council and experts at a heritage assessment meeting at the Grand Hotel.

$6.6m for revamp? - Southland Times - 2nd Feb 2012
The Invercargill City Council has predicted it will cost $6.6 million for the much-anticipated CBD upgrade, but the figure is far from set in stone.

Chch earthquake recovery
Timing 'not ideal' for mayor's tour of Asia – The Press, 01 February 2012
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker will take part in a two-week tour of Asia less than a fortnight after a Crown observer was appointed to monitor the city council.

Sweeping changes for EQC - Dominion Post - 2nd Feb 2012
The Earthquake Commission has proposed a series of sweeping changes to its business, including dropping contents cover and continually hiking its levy, as it awaits a review.

Demolition powers 'draconian', inquiry hears - Dominion Post - 3rd Feb 2012
Special powers enabling earthquake-damaged heritage buildings to be demolished without consent were "draconian" and were likely to be used sparingly, an inquiry has heard.

Consents to be sped up - Christchurch Press - 2nd Feb 2012
Plans to speed up the consenting process at the Christchurch City Council have won unanimous support from city councillors.

Conservation & environment
Trust gives $11,000 to Doc mohua programme - Otago Daily Times - 3rd Feb 2012
The Mohua Charitable Trust has donated $11,000 to a Wanaka-based programme to save the mohua, a rare native bird, in the Mt Aspiring National Park.

Grant to allow pine eradication - Otago Daily Times - 3rd Feb 2012
The community group set up to fight the infestation of wilding pines around Queenstown says a 108,906 grant from the Central Lakes Trust will help them take the war directly to the front line.

Track access temporarily limited - Timaru Herald - 2nd Feb 2012
Access to an Oamaru walking track is to be limited while construction work takes place at the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony.

Beach abuzz as cute chicks set up home - Northern Advocate - 3rd Feb 2012
Ahipara residents have their eyes peeled for three long-limbed, petite and very cute beach babes in their region.

Economy
Treasury pulls back on growth forecasts for 2013; GDP to 3% - TVNZ - 3rd Feb 2012
The Treasury has lowered its forecast for economic growth for 2013.

Rising Kiwi dollar bad news for backpackers - 3 News - 2nd Feb 2012
By Simon Shepherd A resurgent Kiwi dollar is making life hard for those on a budget backpacking down under.

Rena grounding
Rena disaster command centre moves - Bay of Plenty Times - 2nd Feb 2012
The centre of the Rena operation has been downsized and moved to Greerton after four months operating from Tauranga's former Foodtown supermarket.

TIA members’ media releases
Air New Zealand Announces new Regional Manager Asia role – Air New Zealand, 2 Feb 2012
Air New Zealand has appointed a senior airline executive into a new role responsible for all of its Asia operations as it seeks to tap into growth in the region.