Today's Tourism News
19 March 2010
TIA in the news
Air NZ changes Tasman, Pacific flights – NZPA, 18 Mar 10
Anyone flying to Australia and the Pacific on Air New Zealand from late this year will have four options of service priced accordingly, with the bottom option challenging budget airlines.
TIA members in the news
Whaling `could damage tourism' - Marlborough Express - 18th Mar 2010
Following New Zealand's stance on commercial whaling making the headlines recently, Whale Watch Kaikoura chief operating officer Kauahi Ngapora says the country's tourism industry could be...
Accident report due in June - Otago Daily Times - 19th Mar 2010
An investigation into a commercial jet-boat accident on the Dart River, near Glenorchy, last year has been completed, but a final report is still about three months away.
Stitching up a dreamy promotion for Wellington region - Christchurch Press - 19th Mar 2010
Positively Wellington Tourism 2010 campaign. (Note: the flight deal advertised is not permanent, and is valid only till 27 March.
Vitali's predecessor happy to step in as temporary director - New Zealand Herald - 18th Mar 2010
The man who turned the Auckland War Memorial Museum from an underfunded and run-down facility into a well-endowed museum of international standing says he would, if asked, return to help it...
Wanting it all - Dominion Post - 19th Mar 2010
OPINION: The not unexpected resignation of Auckland War Memorial Museum director Vanda Vitali on Tuesday raises some interesting questions.
Conservation & environment
Northland, Waikato and Canterbury among worst dairy polluters – Radio NZ, 19 Mar 10
(audio link, duration: 3′37″)
A hard core of what's described as old and stubborn dairy farmers is being blamed for a worsening of the quality of the nation's waterways.
Farmers to house cows in cubicles withdraw application – Radio NZ, 19 Mar 10
(audio link, duration: 3′49″) Plans to house nearly 18-thousand cows in cubicle stables on farms in the Upper Waitaki have been dropped for now with the companies saying the planning aplication costs are just too high.
Costs of consent results in shelving of intensive farms – Radio NZ, 19 Mar 10
(audio link, duration: 3′46″) Plans for intensive dairy farming in Upper Waitaki are being dropped, with applicants blaming the cost of consents, and what they're calling a misinformation campaign.
Nick Smith responds to dairy farmers' criticism – Radio NZ, 19 Mar 10
(audio link, duration: 5′36″) Environment Minister Nick Smith comments.
Should we mine our national parks? – TVNZ Close Up, 18 Mar 10
(video link) Both sides of the debate have their say, plus find out the results of the Close Up poll.
40 years in conservation - Southland Times - 19th Mar 2010
For Wanaka-based Department of Conservation manager Stu Thorne retirement could almost be seen as a busman's holiday.
Fonterra leads dirty dairying crackdown - Otago Daily Times - 19th Mar 2010
Dairy industry leaders have put farmers on notice to lift their game after a damning report showed many have substandard effluent management systems.
Cow cubicles venture canned - Timaru Herald - 19th Mar 2010
Plans have been ditched for three cubicle dairying operations in the Upper Waitaki, with the companies behind the proposals claiming they have been the victims of misinformation.
Dairy farm compliance rate low - Timaru Herald - 19th Mar 2010
Environmentalists say tougher regulation is needed after recent figures showing a nationwide increase in non-compliance from dairy farmers.
Change of plan on dairy farms - Otago Daily Times - 19th Mar 2010
Three companies planning 16 dairy farms in the Omarama and Ohau areas are withdrawing from a Government-instigated resource consents process that could have cost them more than $3 million.
Farm pollution not an issue here - Taranaki Daily News - 19th Mar 2010
Dairy farm effluent pollution is not a significant issue in Taranaki, says the regional council. Yesterday, the Clean Streams Accord report for the last dairying season revealed that...
Canty dairy farmers must improve - report - Christchurch Press - 19th Mar 2010
Nearly one in six farms is failing to fully treat toxic run-off, with Canterbury farms among the worst, a dairy industry review has found.
Worsening pollution audit 'completely unacceptable' says Fonterra - New Zealand Herald - 18th Mar 2010
New Zealand dairy farmers are failing to clean up their act, according to the latest audit of the sector, with effluent rule compliance getting worse in the past year.
South's cow cockies cleaning up act - Southland Times - 19th Mar 2010
Southland dairy farmers are getting better at complying with effluent regulations, even though most of their national counterparts are struggling.
Dairy farms getting dirtier - Christchurch Press - 18th Mar 2010
Dairy farmers compliance with effluent rules deteriorated for the second year in a row in 2009, according to the latest annual report from the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord, prompting...
Minister demands action on dairy water pollution - Otago Daily Times - 18th Mar 2010
Dairy farmers need to get their act together, Agriculture Minister David Carter said today after the release of a report showing unacceptable levels of effluent management.
Dirty dairy farmers on notice - Dominion Post - 19th Mar 2010
Agriculture Minister John Carter has lashed out at dirty dairy farmers over a report showing "totally unacceptable" levels of effluent management.
Dirtier dairying triggers call for regulation - Otago Daily Times - 18th Mar 2010
An environmental lobbyist says dairying is getting dirtier and the Government should intervene and set easily-enforced standards to fight contamination of waterways and groundwater.
Aviation
Air NZ to ditch business seating on Tasman flights – Sydney Morning Herald, 19 Mar 10
AIR New Zealand has signalled that it does not expect a long-term recovery in high-yielding corporate traffic on flights across the Tasman after deciding to rip out business-class seats from most of its aircraft that fly the route.
Jetstar faces criticism over advice – TVNZ Close Up, 18 Mar 10
Earlier this week it was noisy kids on a plane now it's a case of lost luggage - and not just a suitcase with the holiday laundry and pictures of Dreamworld.
Air NZ plans low fares for Tasman - Dominion Post - 19th Mar 2010
A rejig of trans-Tasman and Pacific flights by Air New Zealand will heat up competition with cut-price fares, more seats and faster check-in.
Blaze forces evacuation of Bay airport - Northern Advocate - 18th Mar 2010
A fire which ripped through 15 hectares of conservation land came within metres of homes, forced the evacuation of Kerikeri airport and made a flight turn back just before landing.
Minister to gather Milford flights info - Southland Times - 19th Mar 2010
Investigations into revising Milford Sound landing rights restrictions will continue today when Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson makes a surprise, "information gathering" visit to the...
Around NZ
Milford Sound cleans up it's rubbish act - Southland Times - 19th Mar 2010
Rubbish going to landfills from Milford Sound has been cut by 55 per cent after just three weeks of recycling.
Maori wardens may patrol Queenstown from May - Southland Times - 19th Mar 2010
Maori Wardens should officially hit Queenstown streets in time for this year's Winter Festival in June but the volunteer wardens could be visible in the resort from May, co-ordinator Darren...
Resort driving growth in Otago - report - Otago Daily Times - 19th Mar 2010
Queenstown's position as the engine room driving growth in Otago has been underscored by a new report profiling the province's economic performance.
Sanson viewed as key to region - Manawatu Standard - 18th Mar 2010
Nearly $500,000 will be spent on developing Sanson into the "gateway" of the region. Developing a piece of Manawatu District Council land in Sanson into a hotspot, not just for visitors, but...
Much ado about a Globe - Nelson Mail - 18th Mar 2010
One man's vision for a Globe Theatre overlooking Nelson's Maitai River is probably not to be, after it drew a mixed response from Nelson city councillors and performing arts representatives.
Sacked hotel manager to be paid $10,000 - Otago Daily Times - 19th Mar 2010
The Oaks Hotels and Resorts NZ Ltd has been ordered to pay a former Queenstown employee $10,000 in lost wages and compensation for unjustified dismissal in 2008.
Let us sell at Easter: retailers - Southland Times - 19th Mar 2010
Wanaka retailers will again decide if they will run the gauntlet and open their businesses over Easter as an influx of potential customers arrive for Warbirds Over Wanaka.
Govt & economy
Online advertisements show labour market is improving - Otago Daily Times - 18th Mar 2010
An increasing number of jobs being advertised online shows demand for skilled workers is steadily improving, says Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett.
Independent commission to be watchdog on NZ productivity - New Zealand Herald - 19th Mar 2010
Business groups have welcomed confirmation yesterday that the Government plans to establish an Australian-style Productivity Commission early next year.
Commission to investigate economic reforms - Dominion Post - 19th Mar 2010
A planned productivity commission is set to lead reforms in key sectors of the economy, along the lines of the electricity industry review that led to sweeping changes last year.
Productivity Commission in place next year - Dominion Post - 18th Mar 2010
A commission charged with finding ways to boost productivity and economic performance will be in place from next year, the Government has announced.
Productivity watchdog to be in action by next year - New Zealand Herald - 19th Mar 2010
A "productivity commission", modelled on the Australian one, is expected to be up and running by April next year, the Government says.
Decision to shelve youth rates bill welcomed - Dominion Post - 18th Mar 2010
The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) has welcomed the Government's decision not to support the reintroduction of youth rates.
Rugby World Cup
We’re no rugby rip-off – Mountain Scene, 18 Mar 10
Queenstown hotel bosses are trashing claims by Australia’s leading rugby tour operator that they’ll price-gouge during next year’s World Cup.
Big brother watching more closely ahead of Rugby World Cup - TVNZ - 18th Mar 2010
The security risk of holding the Rugby World Cup is a driving factor behind a new mission for NZ's most secret intelligence agency
Fears over rugby tournament spur revamp of security agency - New Zealand Herald - 19th Mar 2010
The Government has a new security agency to focus on national and foreign security risks. One News last night reported that the Wellington-based External Assessments Bureau - with 30 staff...
'External' spies turn focus on home front - Dominion Post - 19th Mar 2010
Domestic security threats will be more closely examined by a reformed government intelligence bureau.
Spy agency's changed role upsets Green Party - TVNZ - 19th Mar 2010
The Green Party says it is an outrage that one of the country's spy agencies has changed its name and is going to have a new domestic security role
