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ISSUE 1,059 February 4th 2016

From drinkable to swimmable to wadeable – it’s just not sustainable TEC wants stronger protection for New Zealand waterways. Over the past week alone, newspapers and TV have highlighted many cases of farm cattle wandering into pristine high country lakes and rivers.

Tourists and locals have taken photos and videos of streams of defecation trailing from animals free to roam wherever they want. “For the tourism industry, our international marketability, and ultimately our economy, this is a disaster,” TEC CEO Lesley Immink tells IT. “A significant motivation for visitors choosing Destination New Zealand is our clean and green image and TEC wants to ensure that reputation lasts for generations to come. “We believe water quality to be the single greatest challenge to maintaining New Zealand’s environmental promise.”

Waterways around New Zealand are being siphoned dry and polluted on an unprecedented level, Ms Immink says.

INSIDE Recording the facts - pg3 Key told to “make a difference” - pg4 Aviation safety concerns - pg5 From the Top by Chris Roberts - pg6

“With more international visitors driving around the country, it exposes them to polluted streams, rivers and lakes like never before. Local and regional authorities are putting up ‘dangerous – do not swim here’ signs because of pollution are highlighting the fact and we simply must demonstrate we are doing all that we can to mitigate the pollution and restore the waterways to an acceptable standard.”

Ms Immink says that it is time the government and Tourism Minister John Key recognise the value of clean water to our largest export earning industry - and New Zealanders in general.

All you can fly - pg8

TEC is supporting the Choose Clean Water Tour which is visiting lakes and rivers around the country to document, through short films, how the continuing pollution of waterways is affecting local people and the environment.

Speaker’s Corner by Loren Heaphy - pg9

The tour is being run by four young campaigners who want to gather stories about the degradation and loss of the freshwater environments.

Brookfields Lawyers by Ian McCombe - pg10

“The campaign has received immense support nationwide with more than 50,000 views of the short films and more than 5,000 signatures on a petition calling for stronger freshwater protection,” Ms Immink says.

Hunter joining Southern Discoveries - pg12 Focus On...Taranaki - pg13 RedBalloon rising over NZ pg18

“Since the images and subsequent articles were released, there has been a flurry of support for the campaign with environmental and nature groups stepping up to share their distain at repeated behaviour by some landowners and calling for stronger penalties and consequences for those that do offend.”

At a time when freshwater legislation is under review, the group will also give the public an opportunity to push for stronger protection through a (to pg3)

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Pages Past 20 years ago in IT...

NZTB (now TNZ) is studying how the industry can make the most of the booming FIT market because it offers the most potential. “FIT provides a big opportunity,” says a spokesman. “The problem is working out how to get our hands on this type of visitor.”

The board says New Zealand can lead the world in targeting FIT. Casinos are a bad bet, according to Illinois commerce professor John Kindt. He says every tax dollar generated will cost the country $3 in “social fallout”. A Florida report puts the cost nearer $12.

The Sydney Olympics are expected to attract an extra 480,000 Japanese, 209,000 Brits, 157,000 Americans, 131,000 Taiwanese and 110,000 Koreans to Australia. So the event will provide an unparalleled opportunity for New Zealand, says PATA VP Pacific division Ian Kennedy.

February 16 is the 10th anniversary of the sinking of the Russian cruise liner Mikhail Lermontov off Cape Jackson. Diving on the wreck is said to be unique because it is an intact passenger liner lying in only 10m of water.

It’s boom time for Queenstown with more than $138 million being invested in 1,117 rooms and apartments.

The AA wants Transit NZ to spend another $50 million improving roads.

Christchurch deputy mayor Morgan Fahey blames foreign drivers for a high number of road accidents. What is needed is rational debate on the cause of the high road toll.

15 years ago in IT...

FEBRUARY 1 was the 100th anniversary of TNZ, marginally known as the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts.

Rotorua is again considering promoting itself as “nature’s spa of the South Pacific” says Tourism Rotorua GM Oscar Nathan.

A suggestion that international visitors be levied $10 each “for outdoor recreation, wilderness protection and conservation” is confusing and sounds like an excuse to make them cough up for what should be paid for by the government, says TIA CEO Glenys Coughlan.

Award-winning operator Mike Tamaki says he is “not totally positive” about the New Zealand Tourism Strategy now being drawn up. Some of the papers are going around in circles. “We saw the same stats and questionnaires four years ago. So why are we starting from ground zero to get back to a position we were in two years ago?”

10 years ago in IT...

WHEN it comes to giving the “domestic” market a boost, maybe we should be looking across the Tasman, says Tourism Minister Damien O’Connor. “Australia, which is effectively a domestic market, is probably the best area to concentrate our efforts as a nation,” he says.

Shotover Jet boats have been off the water for more than eight days due to engine problems.

IT1,059 - February 4th 2016

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“It is likely to worsen if policy changes are not made.”

(from pg1) petition calling for a minimum standard for waterways to be raised from ‘wadeable’ as it is currently to ‘swimmable’, and to establish that the priority for freshwater legislation must be the health of people and the environment.

“New Zealand will not be able to hide should international media grab hold of our freshwater quality,”Ms Immink says.

“Herds of cows defecating in lakes, rivers and streams is a marketing nightmare.

For a country that relies on tourism and our clean green image as our largest source of income, current policy and government commitment to freshwater protection is simply not good enough. The government needs to choose clean water as a national environmental priority.

“Freshwater experts have recently challenged the tourism industry to stand up and do more to protect the environment. Candid illustrations about the state of our fresh waterways by New Zealand’s leading freshwater scientists have shocked tourism operators,” she says.

“Analyses of our freshwater, how it is likely to worsen if policy changes are not made and the ways in which water quality have been changed by government to give the appearance we are better than we are have highlighted the absolute crisis point our freshwater environments have reached.”

“After hearing from freshwater experts, the industry decided that we were in a position to do more, both politically and financially and agreed the Choose Clean Water Tour project is likely to have the most impact with some clear outcomes,” says TEC president Martin Horgan. “The motivation for New Zealand to live up to our environmental promise is twofold. First from a sustainable point of view for future generations, but also from a commercial perspective. Our clean green image has worked as a marketing promise in the past, but if we don’t do more to actively live up to it, in 50-100 years’ time, there won’t be anything to market.”

Freshwater legislation is under review and the group will provide the public an opportunity to push for stronger protection through a petition calling for the minimum standard for waterways, he says. Visit: www.choosecleanwater.org.nz.

“The Green Party wants better education and steeper fines.”

THE Choose Clean Water group will finish its four week tour of New Zealand this weekend in its bid to expose the state of the country’s waterways. Stories and memories about rivers and lakes from ordinary New Zealanders have been collected and released as short films online. The group has also been gathering support for a petition, which urges the government to enshrine a standard of swimmable, not wadeable, rivers into legislation.

“The stories are negative stories in a lot of cases, because that’s where we’re at as a country. We haven’t been taking good care of our waterways, and that’s definitely what’ll come through in the stories,” says spokeswoman Marnie Prickett. “We can see how deeply connected people are to their lakes and rivers. It runs much deeper than I could have imagined.” For the group, much of their support has come from other young people, particularly on social media.”

* The Green Party wants better education and steeper fines for people who allow their stock to pollute waterways. “Farmers up and down the country are working hard to protect rivers and streams by excluding stock from waterways and investing in riparian planting that helps to alleviate nutrient pollution,” says spokeswoman Catherine Delahunty. “This shocking incident where cows have been deliberately let into a lake that people use for recreation and fishing demonstrates that not everyone is on board with protecting water quality, and the possible fine of $750 is unlikely to deter them from allowing this to happen again.”

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“Sell it to Cabinet as an investment.”

Make a difference, Key told PM and Tourism Minister John Key apparently wants a fourth term of office. But how will he be remembered, asks Massey University senior lecturer Jeff McNeill.

“Robert Muldoon, asked that question at the end of his life, replied ‘as a good grandparent’. Worthy, but a small ambition for our most powerful prime-minister,” Dr McNeill writes in a Press editorial.

“So here is a suggestion, John. Put lots of leadership, money and effort into saving New Zealand’s natural environment. Now. Invest as much as you put into agriculture – then more, so it makes a big difference.

“Sell it to Cabinet as an investment in sustainable international tourism that promotes regional development, while taking the sting out of the climate change policy.”

Dr McNeill says it would instantly undermine the Greens and Labour, silence critics such as Gareth Morgan, and sooth older National voters who support Forest and Bird and are considering voting New Zealand First. It would attract some of the youth vote.

“You would get your fourth term, and do something that would make your grandchildren, one day, proud of you. And mine would be, too.

“Would you rather want to be remembered as the four-term PM who smiled and was popular, or the popular PM who made a difference by leading our country’s environmental renaissance?” he writes.

NZ eyeing a million Indians a year?

NEW Zealand is eyeing 1,00,000 tourist arrivals from India in 4-5 years and is spending $5 million during this financial year on promotion and marketing in the sub continent, according to the Press Trust of India.

“The India market is growing very fast and is positioned as number 10 source market.

In 2015, we saw 46,000 tourist arrivals from India, which is a growth of 23 percent from 2014. Looking at the steady growth we are hoping to reach 1,00,000 tourists from India in 4-5 years,” says TNZ RM South and South-east Asia Steven Dixon.

Jetstar spreads its wings JETSTAR is expanding its regional network with three new routes as passenger numbers soar in Nelson and Napier. It this week added Auckland to New Plymouth and Palmerston North, and Nelson-Wellington Overall passenger numbers through Nelson Airport rose 18 percent in December compared with the same month the previous year, with traffic on the Nelson-Auckland route jumping 33 percent.

Hawke’s Bay Airport had a record December with passenger numbers up 14 percent compared with December 2014, says Jetstar CEO David Hall.

Flying to cost less?

FLYING is about to get substantially cheaper, according to AirNZ CEO Christopher Luxon.

Lower fuel costs, an expanded fleet and increased competition from the likes of Jetstar will pull down domestic and international prices, he says.

“The combination of fuel, supply and competition will ultimately determine pressure on pricing. Clearly, when you fly internationally fuel becomes a bigger variable than it does in domestic New Zealand. When you fly for 12 to 14 hours, fuel can be 25 to 30 percent of your actual cost base.”

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Albatross watch

Kiwis more corrupt?

NEW Zealand is becoming more corrupt judging from the latest Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. It has dropped to seventh place after topping the global list seven times. Denmark, Finland and Sweden are now perceived to have the least-corrupt public sectors.

Manabus offers more top deck transport MANABUS.COM is spending $10.5 million on 15 new vehicles, including 13 doubledeckers for North Island routes. The company operates as part of the InMotion Group and runs about 700 long-distance and 1,500 short-haul bus journeys through the North Island a year.

PEOPLE can now go online to see a Northern Royal albatross growing up at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head, Dunedin.

DoC has set up a web cam beside an albatross nest with the help of Otago Peninsula Trust, Pukekura Co-management Trust, Wellington City Council and Dunedin City Council.

The chick hatched more than a week ago and is being filmed 24/7, says DoC threatened species ambassador Nicola Toki.

Taiaroa is the world’s only mainland royal albatross breeding colony.

The double-deckers offer more space, including scenic top deck seating, extra table configurations and robust wifi so travellers can stay connected throughout their journey. They carry 65 passengers and include a new layout with extra tables for passenger convenience and comfort. All have reclining seats, power and usb outlets at every seat, free wi-fi, on-board toilets and are also wheelchair-friendly.

The investment follows a successful first year. ManaBus.com was launched in November 2014, taking 240,567 passengers a total of 1,062,880 kilometres around the North Island. The company also acquired nakedbus.com in May 2015.

Weak RMB “no issue” CHINA’S stock markets may have crashed dramatically twice in the first week of 2016 and its economy is showing continued signs of weakness, but Chinese nationals are proving to be resilient when it comes to travel, says Total Travel International president Wang Sugi. The weakened Chinese yuan (RMB) is hardly an issue.

“I do not see any impact on travel because the Chinese are very rich. They will continue to travel and spend money,” Mr Wang says. “There are many first-time travellers in China and they are all eager to see the world,” says Deluxe MICE Tour and Luxury Travel MD Tony Li.

As tourism increases concern about aviation safety INEXPERIENCED pilots, communication issues and flying while tired are among concerns described in a new report for the CAA about helicopter and light aircraft safety operations in New Zealand. It also warns of the major financial stakes linked to the industry.

With New Zealand aiming to almost double the value of tourism to $41,000 million by 2025, the report points to aviation’s “considerable social and economic importance for New Zealand” and the “global reputation as a tourism destination”.

There have been a number of high-profile crashes, most recently the November Fox Glacier helicopter disaster that killed six visitors and a pilot.

That was one of 12 serious accidents in the past five years that have claimed 27 lives.

The CAA commissioned the independent review to risk-profile operations relating to helicopters and small aeroplanes.

Small aeroplanes are classed as having seating for nine passengers or less, excluding any crew.

The response, written by Auckland company Navigatus Consulting, lists “key risk themes” as: training and pilot experience; organisational environment and culture; sector safety culture and collaboration; institutional clients and their role in safety leadership; regulator and its practice. Among the findings, experience and training issues include a “wide acknowledgment that there is a shortage of experienced pilots” and there is also evidence that not all organisations provide repeat training “due to the IT1,059 - February 4th 2016

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FRO M THE TOP

Boomer summer setting tourism up for a big year I hope everyone is busy with a fantastic summer visitor season and that you’ve also had an opportunity for some personal time.

The TIA members who have had a moment to communicate with us have reported that things are going great. In an informal poll, 74 percent said business is way up.

There’s been plenty of media coverage of the current tourism boom and the importance of our industry.

At the end of 2015, TIA was thrilled to announce that tourism was once again New Zealand’s number one export earner. Using the latest Statistics New Zealand data, we estimated the value of international tourism had reached $13,500 million. (NB. Domestic tourism is valued at $18,100 million by Stats NZ).

As an earner of export dollars, this puts tourism ahead of dairy, with Stats NZ data for the year ended September 2015 showing that annual dairy exports (milk powder, butter, cheese, casein and caseinates) totalled $13,000 million.

We knew that 2015 was a big year for our accommodation sector and the year-end numbers have proved just how big it was.

TIA’s hotel sector members recorded a national average occupancy rate of 79 percent, up three points on 2014 and the highest level in at least five years.

by TIA CEO Chris Roberts

Average room rate were also up across all star grades, and combined with the improved occupancy rate, this pushed the average RevPar up by $14 (13 percent) to $124.

These improved returns will help encourage investment and refurbishment. TIA is working closely with MBIE and NZTE to ensure there’s a good understanding of the overall demand and supply of hotel accommodation, and that new developments are encouraged where they are needed.

With Chinese New Year upon us, we are entering what has become the second busiest fortnight for New Zealand tourism, after Christmas/New Year.

Over the corresponding fortnight In 2015 New Zealand welcomed about 40,000 visitors from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan – that number will likely be more than 50,000 this year. Let’s hope they have all booked.

I have done a series of media interviews over summer about capacity constraints and addressed concerns over New Zealand’s ability to sustain the current growth rates.

My response has been that we are not full, although travellers may find they need to book ahead to ensure they get the accommodation and activities they want when they want.

In 2015 New Zealand welcomed an extra 250,000 visitors. So it is possible that in the next five years international visitor arrivals could grow from three million to four million. That may sound a lot but on a world scale we have a long way to go.

Austria; like New Zealand, is renowned for its scenery and film connections (“The hills are alive”). It’s a third the size of New Zealand, and yet it welcomes eight times the number of visitors – 25 million a year.

We will not approach those sort of figures in the foreseeable future. But we have an opportunity to build on the stunning growth we are currently enjoying. Guided by Tourism 2025 we can have more productive and profitable tourism (to pg7)

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FRO M THE TOP

(from pg6) businesses, working with supportive local communities, delivering outstanding and safe visitor experiences.

We know we will need more accommodation options and improvements to cruise port facilities. New conference centres are on the books but still to materialise. New products are needed to attract visitors and provide great experiences in different regions and at different times of the year. Many parts of the country need better roading, water and sewerage infrastructure to cope with both population and visitor growth. We need to attract people to work in our industry – which already directly or indirectly employs 1 in every 8 working New Zealanders. These issues will be priority areas for TIA in 2016 in our discussions with the government.

We have every reason to expect the upward trajectory to continue through 2016, particularly given the multitude of new air services being introduced, the lower New Zealand dollar, cheap fuel prices and effective marketing campaigns. International buyer interest in attending TRENZ in May has been strong. The industry set itself a big goal with the Tourism 2025 growth framework – an industry worth $41,000 million by 2025 – but as we head into 2016, it looks very achievable.

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7/08/2015 1:08 pm

IT1,038 August 13th, 2015

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Club president Ken Mercer says TNZ and Upper Hutt City Council have helped to promote the event.

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Aussies launch new concept in aviation...

AUSTRALIA is getting its first “all you can fly” members-only airline with the launch of Airly. Following a similar business model to California based Surf Air, a monthly fee gives travellers unlimited flights on designated routes.

The company will launch the first flight in March, and plans to operate 54 flights a week in eight-seater jets.

Airly will fly out of smaller airports for a more streamlined experience avoiding time spent “parking a car, crossing a vast terminal, queuing, checking in, security, waiting in the lounge, walking to the gate and then doing that all at the other end,” says cofounder Alexander Robinson.

* See IT1048 and IT1049 about the imaginary airline, Poppi.

Birdlife Park celebrates 30th anniversary QUEENSTOWN’S Kiwi Birdlife Park celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Invercargill-born Dick Wilson and wife Noeleen moved to Queenstown in the 1950s and opened the first garage and shop in Frankton.

Some 20 years later, Mr Wilson noticed that customers were increasingly asking where they could see New Zealand’s famous icon the kiwi.

Park staff (left to right) Back row: Paul Wilson, Bianca Mattson, Sophie OlssonPons, Paul Kavanagh, Kotaro Higuchi, James Ashcroft, Chloe Roberton, Thea Garard.

Front row: Sandra Wilson, Nicole Kunzmann, Jennifer Clark (and Buddy Wilson), Bonnie Wilkins, Christina Becker-Fifield, Marion Jefcoate

An animal lover who was passionate about nature and native wildlife, he knew of a piece of land used as a dumping site for old cars and rubbish on the edge of town. He applied to the Lake County Council to lease the land, ignored those who said he was wasting his time, and was granted the lease for the land and use of a natural spring in the early 1980s. He was 57-years-old when his dream project was given the green light.

After removing several tonnes of rubbish, fencing the entire area, clearing 4.3m-high blackberry and broom canes, building ponds and removing about 100 huge pine trees, Mr Wilson and son Paul built aviaries, the first Kiwi house and a ticket office, also planting about 10,000 native trees to replace the pines.

They contacted the New Zealand Wildlife Service (now DoC) to see how they could go about sourcing birds, and two long and hard years later officially opened for business on January 13, 1986.

AA boosts golf tourism potential with guide GOLF tourism is set for a boost after the launch of the Great NZ Golf Guide, an AA Traveller/Tourism New Zealand partner publication. More than 36,000 international visitors played golf here last year, spending a total of $169 million or almost $5,000 each.

“We’re steadily seeing travel numbers and tourist investment into golf in New Zealand increase, which is why we wanted to make the information about our premium golf destinations easy to access by compiling it into an engaging, easy to read publication,” says AA Tourism Publishing GM Moira Penman.

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SPEAKER’S CORNER

Protecting our inheritance “We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children” – Moss Cass.

IF we are to inherit New Zealand as a tourism destination, we want it to be in the best shape possible – and the environment should be our utmost priority in preserving our tourism experience and offering.

YoungTEC is an industry organisation for people in tourism under the age of 36, to grow and develop their careers in tourism. But the question is, will we have a future career in tourism if New Zealand’s spectacular scenic offering is not really the clean, green image we are currently projecting?

YoungTEC recently identified in a planning session that one of the key challenges the industry faces revolves around the sustainability of one of its primary resources - the stunning natural environment, and that without this, the industry would fail to meet visitor expectations and suffer significant drops in popularity and visitation.

Despite common misperceptions in the media, Generation Y don’t just care about living in the moment but are concerned about the future. We want to be seen as protectors of our country’s natural environment. Current research shows that within our environment, our waterways are suffering the most from the effects of run-off, sewage and litter, and we must act now in order to secure our forthcoming legacy. In a nutshell, we want to see our nation stop treating our waterways like crap, and start thinking about the long term effects on New Zealand’s 100% Pure image.

by YoungTEC chairwoman Loren Heaphy

TNZ research shows that 57 percent of visitors stated our country’s natural environment exceeded their expectations; and 72 percent of visitors rated New Zealand’s environmental management amongst the best in the world. Most tellingly, 44 percent of all visitors stated the spectacular landscapes and natural scenery were the key driver for their visit. Statistics like these make it clear that without stringent measures in place to protect our environment and waterways New Zealand could lose its biggest driver for visitation.

We are concerned about the current level of investment in the protection of the environment by the tourism industry and hope to see tourism operators follow the lead of TEC which recently announced its support of the Choose Clean Water Tour, which will follow a group of four young environmentalists around New Zealand as they work to secure signatures for a petition asking the government to raise water standards from “wadeable” to “swimmable”.

The Choose Clean Water Tour is visiting lakes and rivers around the country between January 10th and February 6th to document through short films, how the continuing pollution of waterways is affecting local people and the environment. The campaign has received immense support nationwide with over 50,000 views of the short films and over 5000 signatures on a petition calling for stronger freshwater protection.

With freshwater legislation currently under review, the tourism industry must speak out above the voices of the farming and dairy communities as they push for looser legislation around waste dumping in our waterways.

To show our support, YoungTEC is committed to inundating social media pages with information and stories, and spreading the campaign message further. YoungTEC members also agreed to support the tour through sharing their own stories and in turn learning more about the waterways in their own regions.

Education and awareness are key factors to making a change within our community regarding our waterways, and YoungTEC feels the more we can share the Choose Clean Water Tour message, the more we can help raise signatures for this important petition.

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Make hay while the sun shines WELCOME to our first column for 2016. We trust that you are enjoying a bumper holiday season. At this time of year business owners often contemplate a sale of their business following a profitable period of trading.

To help ensure maximum value, it is good practice to make sure all your legal requirements have been fulfilled and that your documentation is in order and readily available.

With these few basic matters attended to your sale process will be easier for you and potential purchasers.

Here are some suggestions as to things you could check:

* Consent requirements including resource consents, building consents, code compliance certificates, council licences. Are they on file? Have the terms and conditions been complied with?

* Premises leases/licences.

Are they signed and dated? Have rights of renewal been exercised and

documented? Are the rent reviews current? While you may not want to seek or clarify rent reviews with

by Ian McCombe

your landlord, a purchaser will definitely want to know what their ongoing rental commitments will be. Are your maintenance obligations under the lease up to scratch? Are your fixtures and fittings and those of the landlord clearly and separately identified?

* Franchise Agreement.

Do you have a signed copy? Are you complying with all terms of your franchise

agreement? Do you know what the Franchisor’s requirements for a transfer are?

* Premises.

Do they have a current building warrant of fitness? What is the position with earthquake

strength?

* Insurances.

While a purchaser will likely want to make their own arrangements for insurance a purchaser

will want to know that insurances are able to be obtained and what they will cost.

* Health and Safety.

You need to be aware of the requirements under the new legislation.

* Procedures and Processes.

While you know intimately how your business operates on a day to day basis,

part of what you are selling is the “knowhow” that goes with your business and if you have your procedures and processes fully documented with sample forms and “how to” check sheets and guidelines this will enhance the saleability of your business.

* IT licences.

Do you have them? Are they paid up? Are they current? Are they transferable?

* Intellectual property.

Your procedures and processes come under this heading but, in addition, so do

such things as trademarks and trade names, patents etc. You need to be sure that you have them recorded, registered where appropriate, and adequately protected.

* Employment contracts.

It is mandatory to have written employment contracts in the correct form. Do

you have them? Are they signed? Are they current?

* Accounting information.

Of course your accounting records will be up to date but you should ensure that

they are in a format that is easily understandable and available to potential purchasers, their accountants and financiers. As a minimum you should have available your accounts to the end of your last financial year as signed off by your accountant and at least three months management accounts for review.

* Company records.

If you propose to sell the shares in your company as opposed to the business assets you

will need to ensure that all the company records are up to date including those that should be filed with the Companies Office. Also ensure that shareholders resolutions, company registers and directors resolutions are all fully signed, dated and filed.

Whether or not you intend to sell your business, the matters outlined are also a useful “warrant of fitness” for your business.

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SKYDIVE the Beach has hired Clark Scott to run its New Zealand tandem skydive operation NZone Skydive.

Mr Scott is the GM of Shotover Jet where he has been for more than 20 years.

“Shotover Jet is a world class product and Clark has played a huge role in growing it into the iconic, adrenaline charged experience it is today,” says Skydive the Beach CEO Anthony Boucaut.

Clark Scott

“Scotty brings experience, industry knowledge and great business acumen to NZone,” says Skydive ED Anthony Ritter. “He is a well regarded and well renowned industry figure and we’re certain he can easily make the transition from jet boats to planes and from life jackets to parachutes.”

“Since our acquisition of NZone in October last year, the business has flourished. We have a goal of becoming the world’s biggest adventure tourism company and Scotty’s appointment will help ensure our NZ operation is firing on all cylinders,” Mr Ritter says.

Skydive the Beach Group Limited listed on the ASX last year. Apart from NZone Skydive and Skydive Paradise in Glenorchy, Skydive operates 16-drop zones in Australia.

From the prestigious halls of Yale University to the steamy valley paths of Te Puia “Maori Boy Genius”, Ngaa Rauuira Pumanawawhiti, has taken on a role at MACI to share Maori culture with visitors.

Ngaa Rauuira

Born in Otaki and raised in Napier by his grandparents Ngaa Rauuira took on his first university degree at 13. At 14 he had discovered a passion for international politics.

Two years later in 2009 he travelled to US for an intensive five-week summer school studying law and politics at the Ivy League Yale University.

Inspired when she heard his story, New Zealand film producer and director, Pietra Brettkelly approached Ngaa Rauuira before he returned to Yale in 2010 and to her surprise, she discovered an “interesting and charismatic young man” who would be able to carry a film.

Filming took 16 months. Ms Brettkelly released the feature-length film Maori Boy Genius in 2011 and it has since received international praise.

Upon his return to New Zealand Ngaa Rauuira has been advocating for his people, through his work at Te Wananga o Raukawa as a first year lecturer.

Dr Charles Te Ahukaram Royal

He has now taken his knowledge and passion for indigenous New Zealand to MACI as research and communications coordinator.

Dr Charles Te Ahukaram Royal has been appointed associate director of Te Papa’s Nga Manu Atarau directorate.

“This is a newly-created role which will strengthen Te Papa’s leadership team and work closely with Kaihautu Arapata Hakiwai,” says Te Papa CEO Rick Ellis.

“We know that Charles Royal will offer a creative, dynamic and future-focused leadership approach for Te Papa.”

Dr Royal is a researcher, academic and composer. He was Professor of Indigenous Development at the University of Auckland and concurrently director of Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, an indigenous centre of research excellence hosted by the University of Auckland.

During his tenure at the University of Auckland Dr Royal was also an invited

(to p12)

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(from pg11) Visiting Scholar at the University of London. Dr Royal is a former Fulbright Scholar, a Winston Churchill Fellow and has held a research residency at the Rockefeller Study and Conference Centre, Bellagio, Italy. He is also an acclaimed musician and composer.

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism (CCT) CEO Tim Hunter is the next GM of Southern Discoveries. He takes over from John Robson on April 11. Mr Robson steps down after 20 years in the company.

Mr Hunter is an economics graduate of the University of Otago and has extensive experience in the New Zealand aviation, coach transport and destination marketing sectors. He started as a commercial pilot in the Southern Lakes area, has held airline planning roles with AirNZ, and worked in a number of senior general management roles including GM Marketing with The Mount Cook Group during the 1990s.

Pip Casey

He also worked for TNZ as RM Americas and Europe as well as GM operations. He joined CCT in 2010.

Pip Casey takes on the London based role of RM, UK/Europe for TNZ following four years with Fonterra. For the past two years she has been Fonterra’s marketing director in the Philippines and before that headed the Fonterra team that launched Anchor milk in China.

She is an accomplished marketer with 15 years in brand marketing and commercial business planning.

Ms Casey has worked for Frucor Beverages in New Zealand. She is also no stranger to the UK having worked as brand manager for Glaxo SmithKlein in London and Sainbury’s supermarkets. A keen athlete, she completed the Coast to Coast in 2010.

Tim Hunter

Visit Ruapehu has appointed five new trustees. They are; Tracy Puklowski (Army Museum), Carole Beggs (Explore NZ), Simon Dickson (Ruapehu Alpine Lifts), Paul Chaplow (Forgotten World Experience) and Emily Byrne (TIA).

Chairman is Peter Till while other trustees are Graeme Cosford (Ruapehu District Council), Murray Wilson (chairman National Park Village Business Association), Dan Steele (Blue Duck Lodge) and Annie Rolls (New World Ohakune).

Ruapehu mayor Don Cameron says the council has committed $230,000 of economic development funding to support Visit Ruapehu led projects over the current financial year as well as taking a leading role in developing regional tourism opportunities.

“This funding is being used to undertake research to better understand what visitors think and feel about Ruapehu as a tourist destination, to create a modern digital platform for promoting Ruapehu, develop regional trade offerings and marketing efforts of our two NZ Cycle Trails.”

Gareth Williamson

Christchurch Airport has appointed Gareth Williamson to the new role of trade development manager of New Zealand. He has extensive networks and experience within the travel trade. Mr Williamson is currently sales and marketing manager for The Walshe Group.

Wairakei Resort’s Kathy Guy was made an MNZM in the New Year Honours while John Lee of Wanaka received the CNZM.

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FOCUS ON . . .Taranaki

Team work, local investment and air links help energy region boost its tourism potential IT may be on a limb geographically but Taranaki has more potential than most regions thanks to its strong team approach and millions of dollars in tourism investment often by locals. Being powerful in oil, gas and dairying also helps, of course.

The fact New Plymouth has daily direct flights by AirNZ between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch - and Jetstar this week launched its own Auckland services - augers well for the future, Venture Taranaki CEO Stuart Trundle tells IT. Recent investments in tourism growth include the $18 million Len Lye Centre, the already popular New Plymouth Coastal Walkway, costing a further $16 million, the $5 million Yarrow Stadium, more than $11 million being poured into New Plymouth Airport and $12 million earmarked to boost major events. Then there is the impressive mini-Te Papa, Puke Ariki and Tawhiti Museum, which what would be an international attraction were it closer to the city.

Venture Taranaki CEO Stuart Trundle

Private investment includes an AirNZ capacity increase of seven percent in 2016, the opening of the $22 million Novotel Hobson Hotel, several million being put into expanding the King and Queen Hotel and a multi-million cultural precinct being created in the CBD. Taranaki’s regional GDP is $9,200 million and represents four percent of national GDP yet with only 2.5 percent of the New Zealand population.

Its $80,297 GDP per person gives locals an average weekly income behind only that of Wellington. No wonder Taranaki’s population is increasing faster than the national average, Mr Trundle says.

The visitor industry enjoys 1.7 million bed nights a year with 1,147,000 being VFR. The domestic spend is $175 million while overseas visitors leave behind a further $59 million.

The disappointing thing is Taranaki represents only one percent of the total New Zealand tourism market. Clearly there is room for a boom.

Mr Trundle points to Pukeiti, the Taranaki Mounga Project and the Pouakai Crossing as major opportunities. Then there is a Forgotten World Highway link and the interest being shown in the Port of New Plymouth by the cruise industry.

Pukeiti is an internationally significant garden and activity hub run by Taranaki Regional Council. A major upgrade is earmarked with extra opportunities planned.

Being considered are a canopy walk and adventure activities.

The Taranaki Mounga Project will restore the mountain’s habitat through a $24 million DoC, NEXT Foundation, iwi and regional council partnership.

The idea is to eradicate pests such as weasels, rats and stoats and recover native species through a biodiversity halo around the perimeter, by encouraging farmers to trap pests on their land adjacent to Egmont National Park. And to educate the public as to the value of the native bio diversity.

There are no deer on the mountain and only about 100 goats, all of whom are named by local sharp-eyed hunters! (to p1g14)

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FOCUS ON . . .Taranaki (from pg13) Inside the park, Pouakai is New Zealand’s next great one-day walk, according to Mr Trundle. The current route is a 7/8-hour 18km journey with proposals for a short diversion, the upgrading of the North Egmont Visitor Centre, improving interpretation en route and hut replacement.

Development of the walk, which locals have dreamed of developing for up to 40 years, will ease congestion of the globally-famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which is reaching congestion with 100,000 people walking it for free every year.

Pouakai complements its Ruapehu neighbour and provides an alternative experience for many of the 15,000 people who climb Mount Taranaki every year.

Pouakai will have a longer season than Tongariro and will offer a bird’s eye view over a large area. Experiences are cultural, geological and biological and include alpine forest, impressive lava cliffs, the surprising Ahukawakawa Wetland and mirror-like tarns.

“In conjunction with other activities and investments these projects have the potential to significantly increase visitor flows to Taranaki,” Mr Trundle says.

Venture Taranaki (VT) was the first economic development agency to be integrated with an RTO.

New Plymouth has first class hotels. Above The Devon, a Heritage property, below the just-opened Novotel and at the bottom The King and Queen Hotel’s distinctive painting at reception.

While RTOs usually have promotional strategies VT also focuses on developing the sector through improving operator capabilities, product development and inward investment.

With hotel occupancies often as high as 103 percent, and despite recent and current investment into the sector, there is still need for more accommodation providers, he says.

AirNZ’s Auckland-New Plymouth services are enjoying seven percent annual growth.

But much of this is thanks to the oil and gas industry.

“If we are genuine about a national tourism strategy how do we diversify outside the golden gateways and develop regional New Zealand, ” Mr Trundle asks.

“The Novotel opening is significant and was a bold decision by local developer Philip Brown, as is the money being invested in the 5-star boutique King and Queen complex.

The cultural precinct will be great and there are other opportunities in the pipeline.”

The family-owned Devon Hotel has joined Heritage Group and Mr Trundle says owner Peter Tennent has developed a first class multi-million-dollar convention and conference facility. “Again, this has opened new markets for mid-range conferences.”

Funding through capability grants VENTURE Taranaki is heavily into product development. “Because we are a regional partner of NZTE we can fund through capability grants,” says CEO Stuart Trundle. “If operators come up with $5,000 to develop management capability we will match it.”

When VT was launched only a handful of operators were Qualmarked. Since then most have gone through the process.

“We put a lot of emphasis on upping operator capability and investment knowledge because originally no one paid commission and didn’t understand the global flows.

In fact, some successful operators didn’t understand the industry they were in. They were being successful despite this.

“We are a bit heretical in that we hector them and insist they should be on the TNZ website and if they are not we won’t ‘play with them’.” (to pg15)

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FOCUS ON . . .Taranaki (from pg14) On major events Mr Trundle says every region is after those Taranaki has.

“So how we retain them is a challenge. When the contract to host Womad comes up for renewal other regions dangle fat cheques - but we still retain it.”

VT funds events involving commercial operators including those who have brought the likes of Elton John and Fleetwood Mac to the TSB Bowl of Brooklands.

“Other regions’ event funds dwarf ours, but we still manage to drag some big ones here, without anywhere near that sort of money. It is challenging but ‘we are open for business’ has always been the message. Whether it’s the AirNZ or Jetstar team we are prepared to partner with those parties to help build capacity.”

What is it that Taranaki has that other regions don’t?

“The region is proud and whether it’s rugby or culture it likes to surprise.”

“I never compare but it is a small province and it means we can get 5-6 key people to meetings quickly. We are also incredibly one-eyed. Only Otago and Southland are worse, Mr Trundle says.

“We like to punch above our weight. We have strong parochial views. The region is proud and whether it’s rugby or culture it likes to surprise. So, for a small town of 65,000 on the west coast, we impress whether it is a rugby stadium or a major art gallery, Puke Ariki or our walkway.”

But Taranaki has more than its share of cow cockies. Doesn’t that stymie tourism growth? Aren’t they unaware of the industry’s potential?

“Most farmers are well aware of tourism’s potential. They often buy motels when they retire,” says Mr Trundle. “We also work hard with the sector. The EDA budget is also only two cents in the council’s rateable dollar. We tell them that two cents represents the marketing for the next generation. “We are trying to make sure the next generation sees the benefits. Tourism investment needs longer term thinking than just annual plans.”

VT is seen as “hard wired” into all three Taranaki councils, has an excellent relationship with each and is totally supported, he says.

Pouakai Crossing to become major attraction?

THE relatively unknown Pouakai Crossing along the side of Mount Taranaki will become a major New Zealand visitor attraction in coming years.

It will entice cruise ship passengers and become a popular alternative to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, says Top Guides’ director Rob Needs.

Mr Needs ran the Kiwi Outdoor Centre in New Plymouth, hiring ice axes and crampons and the like for 17 years until buying a local guiding company last year.

“I wanted to diversify into different revenue streams and managed to learn about tourism from the sidelines by attending Venture Taranaki workshops, rather than just launching headlong into the industry,” he tells IT. “Top Guides 2014 became an entity with four partners. It had been operational 15 years already and was listed with Lonely Planet. So a lot of marketing was behind it.

“We have a different focus to what other guiding companies have had here. We are focused on travel trade. Our pricing structure is commissionable. None of the other companies have understood the whole commissionable product. But for Taranaki to move forward someone must have commissionable product . That was us!”

The 19km Puakai Crossing takes 7-8 hours to complete, starting at 900m,

(to pg16)

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FOCUS ON . . .Taranaki (from pg15) rising to 1,300, then down to 900m again and then up again to 1,200m before returning to 900m.

Caledonian Sky is a small cruise ship of 60 passengers, which Mr Needs’ company takes on short walks close to the road end before returning them to their ship.

That there’s potential in the cruise sector was evidenced when Holland America Line’s Volendam arrived in New Plymouth with 2,500 passengers after another New Zealand port refused to open on Boxing Day. Mr Needs is confident Westgate, being a deepwater port, will become popular with other vessels, although there are issues over it being a base for petrochemicals.

“If we can get the port company to be more user-friendly to cruise ships, we can get four in a season. That will put Taranaki on the map.

“The port is unique in that passengers can be off their ship and 900m up a volcano in 90 minutes.”

He says few people do the walk, which is already established, because they are unaware of it.

Yet it offers a significant opportunity to relieve pressure on the almost too popular Tongariro Alpine Crossing with 100,000 visitors a year.

Pouakai Crossing threads around Mount Taranaki

Pouakai needs greater recognition by DoC and the tourism industry generally. Venture Taranaki has set up a steering group and Mr Needs is a little miffed he has not been invited onto it.

“I am the only one with firsthand experience of what people want. I have done all the lobbying but have gone as far as I can as an individual.”

One Asian woman did the walk on her own with with confidence, which gives Mr Needs reassurance it will be popular once promoted.

A Japanese company already sends up to five groups of 10 people every year to New Zealand to experience the great walks. Pouakai could be popular with tour companies because it has a longer season than Tongariro and can be experienced in the middle of winter without technical equipment.

“I have said to Venture Taranaki and DoC that if they don’t do anything the crossing will become something anyway, as the horse has already bolted. It is just the speed at which it happens.”

Mr Needs says many overseas visitors are no longer taking on the Tongariro Crossing, choosing instead to climb Mount Doom (Ngauruhoe).

“They are walking up and down Ngauruhoe and then out again.”

Pouakai could become popular with these people too while providing an alternative for the 10- 15,000 who tackle the Taranaki summit climb every year.”

He says the crossings should work together and for Taranaki to saturate the market in Ruapehu so those who are into the outdoors can be told of what’s on offer in Egmont National Park.

“Taranaki could, in theory, be a sleeping giant in the visitor industry. It has massive potential.

“A city of 65,000-70,000 and a province of 100,000 show there is capacity here,” Mr Needs says. (to pg17)

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FOCUS ON . . .Taranaki (from pg16) “The standard of our food and beverage and hospitality is very high because the petrochemical industry has demanded it because they are international people, Mr Needs says.

“We have direct flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. So bring it all on.

We have flown under the radar for far too long. Hotel occupancy has been high for ages but with the oil downturn we need tourism.

“Top Guides is excited by the Novotel and the other 4-star properties in New Plymouth as their guests are more prepared to pay for the guiding.”

How can DoC benefit financially from an increase in visitors? “Simple,” says Mr Needs. “Charge people for parking. They do that in the Lake District in England and it works well. So why not in New Zealand?” Contact: rob@topguides.co.nz.

Forgotten no more - inland route back in time THE Forgotten World Highway is coming alive with Forgotten World Adventures’ rail tours while the road trip is being enjoyed by more visitors.

Venture Taranaki CEO Stuart Trundle says either trip is one of the few experiences left that people identify with New Zealand.

“You arrive in Auckland and head south for two hours – on a motorway and you could be anywhere.

“Take the Forgotten World Highway. The topography is amazing and the communities it links provide a wonderful welcome. It has tremendous potential.”

Stratford at the western end could become the gateway to Taranaki National Park as well as Tongariro National Park if an idea to link the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and the Pouakai “crossing” is realised.

Māori legend has it that Mount Taranaki once lived in the centre of the North Island, alongside the male mountains of Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngaruahoe.

A lone female mountain, the graceful Pihanga, stood amongst them, and they fought for her affection, but none more so than Taranaki and Tongariro.

The two fought so fiercely that the earth shook, lightning crashed, and lava flowed.

Tongariro emerged victorious, and a defeated Taranaki was banished west, to his current location, carving the Whanganui River as he went and coming to rest at the heart of the region which was to bear his name. Tourism could link them again.

Outstanding summer for holiday parks IT has been an outstanding summer for holiday parks throughout the country, HAPNZ CEO Fergus Brown tells IT. “We had a terrific December with a wide range of international visitors staying and many Kiwis deciding to getaway for an early Christmas break.

“January was also excellent with the only downside being some weather events in Northland and the Coromandel.”

Tenting was again popular, as were motorhomes and caravans.

Domestic visitor numbers were influenced by the low cost of fuel and the strong economy. “It has been great to see many FIT Chinese visitors staying in holiday parks along with visitors from our traditional western markets. It is a very long time since we have seen so many of our key markets all experiencing growth.”

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Aussie’s RedBalloon rises over NZ REDBALLOON, Australia’s leading online experience retailer is increasing its New Zealand business activity, although it has been here for the past 12 years, says CEO Nick Baker.

Mr Baker was appointed last year, and has since launched a website, undertaking a full re-brand, and signing major corporate partners including Velocity and Accor Hotels.

“With the foundations for RedBalloon in great shape, now is the right time to really embrace the New Zealand market and drive incremental value for local operators,” he says.

“We’re now in a position where RedBalloon is moving towards live availability, so we want to appeal to the 1.3 million Aussies who arrive in New Zealand every year.

“This time we have a clear strategy and we’ve employed a local professional with a great depth of experience with New Zealand trade and tourism. Having looked at the market from a fresh perspective and scoped out the opportunity, we’re much better positioned to have a go at bringing New Zealand to life.”

* Former TNZ staff member Adam Hughes has been appointed regional product and partnerships manager and will be based in Rotorua for the first six months while he grows the local experience portfolio.

Published by South Pacific Media Services Ltd PO Box 1464, Paraparaumu Beach Kapiti 5252, New Zealand.

Publishing and Research Editor : Nigel Coventry.

Phone: +64-4-2973131 nigel@insidetourism.com Member: PATA, TIA, Skal ISSN 1179-2418

Tourism Brand Index + 64.2

* ATEC chairman Denis Pierce has been helping RedBalloon in New Zealand. A New Zealander by birth, Mr Pierce has a wealth of hands-on tourism experience, which he put to work touring Mr Baker through the Queenstown/Wanaka area.

“I have spent my whole career selling the excitement of visitor experiences to both the New Zealand and Australian markets,” Mr Pierce says.

“This is an overdue and exciting progression for RedBalloon that will bring exciting and valuable new business to New Zealand shores. RedBalloon will quite quickly have an unparalleled range of compelling and unique experiences based on what we’ve seen.”

The RedBalloon New Zealand site features 207 local products, with the aim of doubling this in the next six months.

“We’re looking for great New Zealand suppliers to come on board. RedBalloon take a great deal of effort choosing, curating and on-boarding new suppliers to ensure they become part of the RedBalloon family,” Mr Baker says.

“From gourmet food and wine to health and wellbeing opportunities, as well as some of the world’s most exhilarating experiences, New Zealand has an exceptional offering for visitors, and locals to enjoy.” Contact: adam.hughes@redballoon.com.au.

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