Media Centre

Emirates adds third A380 to NZ
Emirates is upgrading its services out of New Zealand by putting on a third superjumbo.From October the airline will use an A380 to fly the daily Auckland-Brisbane-Dubai service replacing the smaller Boeing 777-300.The addition...

PM defends 35-year SkyCity deal
Prime Minister John Key yesterday claimed public support for his pokies-for-national convention centre deal as the Opposition reacted angrily to a 35-year compensation clause which protects the casino against future law changes.The...

Convention centre at new heights
The architects behind the $402 million New Zealand International Convention Centre say they have designed a three-level building with each storey double the height internally of SkyCity's existing convention centre.Moller Architects'...

Editorial: SkyCity deal too soft on social issues
The enthusiasm of the Tourism Industry Association, Air New Zealand, the Employers and Manufacturers Association and BusinessNZ to the agreement between the Government and SkyCity over a $402 million convention centre in Auckland...

Cruise ship surge changing tourism
The passenger cruise market to Napier has shot up by 548 per cent over the past five years but the impact is a dramatic downturn in coach tours with some operators cancelling schedules to Hawke's Bay.Hawke's Bay Tourism said the...

Labour, Greens slam SkyCity deal
Labour and the Greens have slammed a deal announced for a new convention centre in Auckland today, saying the Government has handed SkyCity a licence to print money.Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce announced today that...

SkyCity shares jump to 5-year high
SkyCity Entertainment Group shares rose to the highest level in 5 years after the Auckland-based casino and hotel company inked a deal to build a $402 million convention centre in exchange for increased gambling concessions.SkyCity...

SkyCity deal unveiled: $402m centre, 230 more pokies
Details of the controversial SkyCity convention centre deal with the Government have been announced this morning - and the listed casino operator will pay $402m for the new centre.The centre is expected to generate $90m of revenue...

Martin Snedden: Adventure tourism is getting much safer
I know I'm on a hiding to nothing sticking my head up to defend the safety culture within New Zealand's adventure tourism industry. This week the coroner passed down his verdict on the cause of the Fox Glacier crash, which took nine...

New Zealand: Row, row, row your boat
Auckland is paradise for boaties. Pleasure boats, sailboats, motor boats, from one-person kayaks to 10-foot tinnies to 70-foot super yachts, there's a boat for every taste, and almost every budget. The Hutchwilco Boat Show prompted...

Kawakawa: The engine Gabriel
Most people passing through Kawakawa know it for its famous toilets, but it's also known as "train town" because of the Bay of Islands vintage railway track running right down the middle of the main street.We head to the station...

Milford Track: Endangered species
We have come across the hermit-like folk who inhabit the DOC rangers' huts before on our great walks but on the Milford Track, traversed by 14,000 people every year, the conservation rangers are an all-star cast. They are a breed...

Kia ora: Mapua
Origin of name: Mapua means "abundance" or "prolific". Population: About 3500, including the Mahana Hills area. Where is it: At the top of the South Island in the midst of Tasman Bay, in the western ent

Four of the most fun things in Bay of Plenty
1. Blokarts 176 Parton Rd, Papamoa. (07) 572 4256. blokartheaven.co.nz What's a Blokart? Essentially it's a land sailing gizmo, a wind powered go-kart. Super easy to drive and grea

New Zealand: Plenty to see in the Bay
We were returning a small nephew to his parents in Papamoa after the school holidays spent with us. Having driven more than two hours to get there, my son and I thought it prudent to investigate more of the Bay of Plenty's charms....

Key hearing for Air NZ on surcharges
Air New Zealand faces continued action over air freight surcharges in other countries as the long-running case brought by the Commerce Commission here reaches a key stage this week.The airline faces a penalty hearing in the High...