Tourism News

17 June 2009

30 July 2010  

TIA members in the news
Qtown jetboat operator facing fresh charges by Maritime NZ - Southland Times - 30th Jul 2010
A Kawarau Jet co-owner last night said the company was conscious of its public image, pending fresh charges against the operator by Maritime New Zealand.

Adventure & outdoor
Review of safety set to go before Cabinet - Dominion Post - 30th Jul 2010
A report on the adventure tourism industry is expected to go to the Cabinet in the next month. A review was ordered by Prime Minister John Key after he received a letter from Briton Chris...

Family of bridge-swing victim read statements in court - 3 News - 29th Jul 2010
By Charlotte TonkinThe family of the teenager thrown to her death when an adventure swing-ride went wrong have given harrowing victim impact statements in court.

Bridge swing death: McWhannell gets community service - 3 News - 29th Jul 2010
(video link) Alastair McWhannell has been sentenced to 400 hours of community service

Lack of apology hurts grieving family - Dominion Post - 30th Jul 2010
The lack of an apology from the bridge swing operator blamed for Catherine Peters falling to her death has made her passing even harder to bear, her mother says.

Judge, victim's father question lack of adventure regulation - New Zealand Herald - 29th Jul 2010
The dangers of New Zealand's unregulated adventure tourism industry were highlighted today during the sentencing of a bridge swing operator convicted of a student's manslaughter.

Community service for bridge swing operator - Otago Daily Times - 29th Jul 2010
Bridge swing operator Alistair McWhannell was today sentenced to 400 hours community service for the manslaughter of a Massey University student who fell to her death last year.

Family: Ballance Bridge Swing was 'disaster waiting to happen' - TVNZ - 29th Jul 2010
The safety of New Zealand's adventure tourism industry has come under the spotlight after the sentencing of a bridge swing operator

Regulation needed in adventure tourism? – NewstalkZB, 29 July 2010
A High Court judge has criticised the lack of regulation of adventure tourism in New Zealand.

Conservation & environment
Consents for controversial farm quashed - Otago Daily Times - 29th Jul 2010
Land use consents granted for a controversial large-scale factory dairy farming proposal in the Mackenzie Basin have been quashed, the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) says.

Greenbacks for yellowheads - Christchurch Press - 29th Jul 2010
On a silver bird flying from Manhattan to New Zealand, a yellow-headed winged biped that embodies the pre-European essence of the South Island found a friend in passenger Nigel Babbage.

Skinks, geckos go to school - Bay of Plenty Times - 29th Jul 2010
Such is the value of skinks and geckos on the black market that enthusiast Malcolm prefers his surname not to be known - it could lead to poachers locating and raiding his collection.

Gecko thief given bail - Northern Advocate - 29th Jul 2010
A Poroti man who pleaded guilty to burglary and possessing 26 geckos stolen from two Northland wildlife sanctuaries has been granted bail and ordered to stay away from the two properties.

Govt may reduce local authorities' powers - Christchurch Press - 30th Jul 2010
Environment Minister Nick Smith is hinting the Government might snatch crucial water-management powers from local authorities after the quashing of consents for controversial Mackenzie...

Council admits it erred - Timaru Herald - 30th Jul 2010
The Waitaki District Council has admitted it erred in not asking for public input into consent applications for controversial cubicle dairying proposals.

RWC 2011
Cup a $36m boost for North - Northern Advocate - 29th Jul 2010
Next year's Rugby World Cup is expected to bring $36 million, 35,000 visitors and seven cruise ships to Northland - but the real benefit will be the chance to showcase the region to the world.

Airlines & airports
Pilot defends airport safety - Otago Daily Times - 30th Jul 2010
"Scaremongering comments" made regarding Queenstown Airport was doing little to reassure the "uninitiated or fearful air traveller", one experienced pilot said yesterday.