Today's Tourism News

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9 September 2010

TIA members in the news
Operator applies to move catamaran - Otago Daily Times - 9th Sep 2010
The oldest tourism operator in Milford Sound wants to expand its charter-boat business in Queenstown with the introduction of a 200-passenger vessel on Lake Wakatipu.

Pilots beach penguin-viewing operation approved - Otago Daily Times - 9th Sep 2010
A new penguin-viewing tourism venture at the Pilots Beach reserve on Otago Peninsula has been granted consent, and the trust behind it hopes to have the venture operating by next September.

Earthquake
Tourism operators anxious over Christchurch's reputation –Radio NZ Morning Report, 9 Sept 10
(audio link, duration: 2′28″) Arts and entertainment organisers have been working flat out trying to rejig a series of big events in Christchurch over the coming weeks.

Govt urged to reassure potential tourists - Otago Daily Times - 9th Sep 2010
The Government should move quickly to reassure tourists planning on visiting New Zealand that it was "business as usual" following the Canterbury earthquake, a tourism expert said yesterday.

Paula Bennett says government stands by businesses - TVNZ - 8th Sep 2010
The Social Welfare Minister says the government is particularly concerned for small businesses in the Canterbury quake zone

We have to keep chins up, says Townsend - Christchurch Press - 9th Sep 2010
Christchurch business owners and their staff are now facing fatigue and stress with some workers afraid for their families and reluctant to return to work after yesterday's violent aftershock.

Govt will pay $350 a week to earthquake-hit workers - New Zealand Herald - 8th Sep 2010
Workers left out of pocket by Canterbury's devastating earthquake will be compensated in a Government wage subsidy scheme that could cost up to $100 million.

Quake wage subsidy applications open Thursday - 3 News - 8th Sep 2010
The Government's emergency wage subsidy scheme for workers who aren't being paid because of the Canterbury earthquake will be open for applications from tomorrow.

Govt announces earthquake wage subsidy - National Business Review - 7th Sep 2010
The government has stepped in with an emergency $350-a-week wage subsidy for workers who aren't being paid because of the Canterbury earthquake, a move Prime Minister John Key says could...

PM: Consents for rebuild may be given retrospectively - New Zealand Herald - 8th Sep 2010
The Government may rush legislation through to enable rebuilding work to be carried out in the wake of Canterbury's earthquake, with building consents given in retrospect.

Key suggest legislation to enable fast rebuilding - 3 News - 8th Sep 2010
(video link) The Government is considering special legislation to enable rebuilding to go ahead as fast as possible.

Legislation may be used to speed up quake repair work - National Business Review - 8th Sep 2010
Prime Minister John Key says a bill may be needed to speed up the rebuilding process in Canterbury following Saturday's earthquake.

Govt may push quake bill through under urgency - 3 News - 9th Sep 2010
Parliament could soon be dealing with a bill under urgency to speed up the rebuilding of earthquake-damaged homes and buildings in Christchurch.

State of emergency remains in place - Otago Daily Times - 8th Sep 2010
The state of emergency in Christchurch is likely to remain in place today as big aftershocks from the weekend's massive quake continue to rattle the city.

Law change possible to allow Cantabrians to rebuild - TVNZ - 8th Sep 2010
Building and resource consents could be handed out retrospectively to homeowners trying to make the houses habitable in Canterbury

Christchurch CBD reopens - 3 News - 8th Sep 2010
A chunk of central Christchurch reopened to businesses and the public this morning, but authorities have warned people to be cautious as aftershocks from Saturday's devastating earthquake...

Earthquake state of emergency extended - New Zealand Herald - 8th Sep 2010
The state of emergency in Christchurch has been extended a further seven days following an aftershock of 5.1 on the Richter scale this morning.

Earthquake cash flows for Christchurch - New Zealand Herald - 8th Sep 2010
Stricken homeowners and workers will start receiving compensation and emergency payouts within days as Christchurch reels from violent aftershocks and a quake bill that now threatens to...

Telecom offers Christchurch free wi-fi - National Business Review - 8th Sep 2010
Telecom has made 13 wireless broadband (wi-fi) hotspots free around Christchurch. Chris Quin, head of Telecom's Gen-i services division, said the free wireless service would "take...

Saudi govt calls Christchurch students – TV3, 7 Sept 10
(video link) The Government of Saudi Arabia has evacuated all of its foreign students living in Christchurch.

Conservation & environment
1080 operation starts quietly - Southland Times - 9th Sep 2010
The first stage of a large-scale 1080 poison drop in the Waitutu Forest began yesterday but without any protesting activity seen at previous operations throughout the country.

Crime
Safety charges withdrawn after conviction - Manawatu Standard - 8th Sep 2010
The bridge swinging operator who caused the death of a Massey University student has avoided any further penalties.

Jilted girl goes 'berserk' - Wairarapa Times-Age - 8th Sep 2010
A teenager who screamed she was HIV-positive while biting, kicking and clawing the middle-aged managers of the Carterton Holiday Park said the violent rampage began because she could not...

Dog owner says weka deaths not his fault - Otago Daily Times - 8th Sep 2010
The owner of a dog alleged to have killed 14 endangered weka says he did everything he could to keep the animal out of a nature reserve but he could not chase after it when it broke free...

Govt
Maori Party backs new foreshore and seabed law - 3 News - 8th Sep 2010
The Maori Party is throwing its weight behind the Government's legislation that will replace the Foreshore and Seabed Act, ensuring it will be passed by Parliament even if other parties...

MP pulls Easter Trading Bill - Southland Times - 9th Sep 2010
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean has pulled her bill to extend Easter trading before it could be "turfed out" in Parliament yesterday.

Easter trading bill pulled from debate - New Zealand Herald - 8th Sep 2010
National MP Jacqui Dean is re-jigging her bill to extend Easter trading because it did not have the numbers to pass in its current form.

RWC 2011
Just one year to go until start of Rugby World Cup –Radio NZ Morning Report, 9 Sept 10
(audio link, duration: 2′58″) The Rugby World Cup will kick off a year from today and some are now wondering whether quake-hit Christchurch will be ready to play its part. 

One year until Rugby World Cup kicks off –Radio NZ Morning Report, 9 Sept 10
(audio link, duration: 4′19″) The Rugby World Cup will begin in exactly 365 days from today.

Venture releases World Cup plan for city - Southland Times - 9th Sep 2010
As theRugby World Cup clock ticks around to one year out, Venture Southland has released its concept plan to keep rugby-mad fans entertained in the south.

Around NZ
Cycleway agreement approved - Otago Daily Times - 9th Sep 2010
A formal agreement which will secure $2.75 million in Government money for the Alps to Ocean cycleway has been approved by the Waitaki District Council.

Mayor's arts centre steps raise eyebrows - Nelson Mail - 8th Sep 2010
Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall appears to be acting alone in his efforts to get a performing arts and conference centre up and running.

Plane crash
Minister to visit Fox Glacier crash site - Christchurch Press - 8th Sep 2010
Transport minister Steven Joyce is to visit the site where nine people died in a plane crash. The skydive plane crashed shortly after takeoff at Fox Glacier on Saturday, killing all on board.