Love Taupō Supports New Visitor Charges
Love Taup General Manager Patrick Dault believes the extra funding provided will deliver positive results for regional tourism for both visitors and locals.
Love Taupō supports the Government's announcement of a plan to charge overseas visitors for the privilege of visiting some of New Zealand's most iconic and popular conservation areas.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of four high-visit conservation locations featured in the initial scheme.
Revenue gathered by these visitor charges will go back into Department of Conservation work at the same locations.
Love Taupō General Manager Patrick Dault believes the extra funding provided will deliver positive results for regional tourism for both visitors and locals.
'More money to sustainably manage our treasured conservation estate is a positive for every Kiwi because we all get to benefit from a safe and healthy environment,' Dault says. 'Any investment in improving and developing new infrastructure on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing should be good news for both visitors and local communities as it will ultimately offer an enhanced experience.'
'A large proportion of our international visitors visit the region for the purpose of exploring the Unesco World Heritage Park and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing remains one of the destination drivers.' adds Dault.
'This aligns perfectly with Te Ihirangi — the Taupō Regional Destination Management Plan, a common vision for a more regenerative approach to tourism. It puts people and place, communities and the environment first, ensuring tourism adds true value to the destination.'
The watchout for the tourism sector, he said, would always be the challenge of keeping costs within the reach of visitors. While a small extra charge might not be much for some market segments, it could represent a deterrent for a different group.
The Government is looking initially at applying charges to four locations: Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Cathedral Cove/Te Whanganui-a-Hei, the Milford Track and Aoraki/Mount Cook. Foreign visitors account for up to 80% of visitors to these places.
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said the charges would range from $20 to $40 per person, with the goal of raising up to $62 million per year to be reinvested directly into those same areas. Entry for New Zealanders would remain free.
Up to 105,000 visitors used some, or all, of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in the 2023/24 season (1 October 2023 to 8 April 2024), according to the Department of Conservation. Booking data shows that 80% were international visitors. Up to 1500 to 2000 people visited the track on the busiest days.*
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
an hour ago
- NZ Herald
Triathlon: Tauranga secures 2028 World Triathlon Championship Final as part of three-year partnership
Tauranga was today confirmed as host city of the 2028 World Triathlon Championship Final in a three-year partnership with World Triathlon. 'After an absence of 16 years, the World Triathlon Championship Series final will be returning to our shores in 2028 and we couldn't be prouder. 'Triathlon has such a rich heritage in Aotearoa New Zealand and we are excited to be adding to that history over the next three years. De Wet said the country's age group athletes were loved around the world for their unique 'Kiwiana approach'. 'I am so pleased for all those that are dedicated to attending World Championship events around the world, that they will finally have the chance to do this at home, in Tauranga, in 2028. 'And for our elite athletes, who campaign for so much of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the chance to race at home in front of their family, friends and fellow New Zealanders will be truly special. 'My wish is that all New Zealanders, regardless of ability, get involved in triathlon over the next few years, and when the time comes, welcome the world to our shores, with open arms.' Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said these events would give a major boost to the economy. 'Over the three years, the events are expected to attract more than 6000 international visitors, generating 100,000 international visitor nights and $25 million in tourism visitor spend. Hayden Wilde pictured earlier this year. Photo / Connull Lang 'We're proud to be able to bring these international sporting events to New Zealand through the Major Events Fund, supporting high-performance sport, driving more sport tourism, and showcasing our country on the world stage,' Upston said. The Government is investing $2.65 million from the Major Events Fund to support Tri NZ to host three events: the World Triathlon World Cup 2026, the World Triathlon Championship Series in 2027 and the World Triathlon Championship Final 2028. 'Major sporting events like these attract an international following from athletes and sport enthusiasts alike,' Upston said. 'A comparable event like The Ironman 70.3 World Championship held last year in Taupō surpassed all expectations, attracting about 15,000 international visitors and generating $23 million in visitor spending in the region and $50 million nationwide.' Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale, who was at this morning's announcement at Trinity Wharf, said securing the World Triathlon events was a landmark achievement for Tauranga. 'Tauranga already boasts a proud triathlon heritage, with annual events such as the Mount Festival of Multisport, the Tinman Triathlon and the Surfbreaker Triathlon delivering strong community engagement and economic benefits. 'Hosting three of the sport's most prestigious international events will build on that momentum and elevate our city to the world stage,' Drysdale said. 'Across all three events, the city is projected to welcome thousands of international and domestic visitors, who will generate significant visitor nights and bring in approximately $11m in visitor spend to the Tauranga economy.' World Triathlon president Antonio Arimany said he was excited about triathlon's biggest event returning to a country with a 'rich and proud heritage in the sport', having previously hosted the pinnacle event in the sport in Queenstown in 2003 and Auckland in 2012. 'After Auckland many years ago, we are coming back to New Zealand to celebrate the biggest event we have in our sport. 'I'm looking forward to seeing you all there' WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
NZ Herald
an hour ago
- NZ Herald
Cabinet paper leak suggests Minister Nicole McKee's U-turn on alcohol sales reform
The draft Cabinet paper says restricting opening hours could have had a major impact on violent crime – preventing 2400 'violent victimisations' each year. But that move has now been axed. A Ministry of Justice email, also leaked to RNZ, shows justice officials 'were directed by Minister McKee to proceed with speed to lodge a revised Cabinet paper' to go before a Cabinet committee on August 13. 'The focus of the paper had changed during negotiations - it is now on reducing regulatory burden with some of the harm reduction measures no longer included - e.g. reducing maximum default trading hours.' McKee told RNZ it was regrettable her draft Cabinet paper was leaked. 'I won't be discussing a few cherry-picked parts of a draft paper through the media before I've even had an opportunity to discuss the issue with my Cabinet colleagues,' she said in a statement to RNZ. 'I am extremely disappointed that a draft Cabinet paper has been shared with media. This undermines the integrity of the public service and erodes New Zealanders' trust in public servants.' 'Strong correlation' between off-licence opening hours and violent crime The leaks show that in an early version of her Cabinet paper, McKee proposed to restrict bottle store opening hours to between 9am and 9pm in a bid to reduce violent crime. 'I am focused on hazardous drinking which can lead to violent crime. Evidence shows a strong correlation between later opening hours for off-licenses and violent crime,' the Cabinet paper originally said. 'Ministry of Justice analysis indicates that bringing forward the closing hour to 9pm could see up to 2400 fewer violent victimisations annually.' The paper said restricting opening hours would reduce sales revenue for off-licences, as about 20% of sales were made between 8pm and 11pm and about 2% before 9am. The paper originally said the impacts on business had been 'weighed carefully' against the benefits of reducing violent crime. But the leaks show this was changed in a later version. 'I am not proposing any changes to the maximum trading hours for license holders,' McKee wrote in the updated paper, noting Auckland and Christchurch had already set a 9pm closing time under their Local Alcohol Policies. 'I consider that this is sufficient to manage concerns around license hours.' Focus now on 'reducing red tape' for law-abiding businesses McKee would not be interviewed by RNZ, but confirmed her reforms would now focus on making it easier for businesses in the alcohol industry. 'My focus is on reducing red tape restricting businesses and New Zealanders who play by the rules. The law Labour left us with is a mess,' she said. The draft Cabinet paper obtained by RNZ shows McKee is now proposing to make it easier for clubs and bars to serve alcohol outside normal trading hours when screening major sport or cultural events. McKee's Cabinet paper also proposes giving the alcohol industry more power when faced with objections to liquor licences. The paper says changes in 2023 allowed any person or group to oppose a liquor licence but that McKee wants to overturn this so objections only come from the community impacted. 'To better balance community voice and impacts on business I seek agreement to only allow objections to licensing applications by people or groups and organisations in the same territorial authority as the premises.' There are also moves to protect businesses impacted by changes to a council's Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) – where communities determine when and how alcohol is sold. 'To protect existing businesses if a LAP is adopted or amended I also seek agreement to prevent a DLC (District Licensing Committee) from declining a renewal application if the license would be inconsistent with the relevant LAP.' The changes would also give applicants for a liquor licence a right of reply to objections received in DLC hearings. Andrew Galloway, executive director of Alcohol Healthwatch, funded by the Ministry of Health, said reducing trading hours for bottle stores and supermarkets would have had a major impact on reducing alcohol harm. 'Off-licences sell over 80% of alcohol in Aotearoa and these off-licences are over-concentrated in the most deprived areas. Restricting off-licence supply of alcohol would be especially important in reducing alcohol-related harm.' Galloway said that when he became aware the Government was looking at restricting off-licence trading hours, he said to his team 'we should prepare for a U-turn' once industry lobbying swung into action. 'We will continue to miss every meaningful opportunity to reduce or prevent alcohol harm in New Zealand if we continue to allow unbridled access to power for harmful commodity industries.' -RNZ
Newsroom
3 hours ago
- Newsroom
Overseas investment reforms may create more uncertainty, law firms warn
The coalition Government's overhaul of the overseas investment regime could create more uncertainty for investors, law firms have warned. Associate Finance Minister and Act leader David Seymour is overseeing a suite of changes to the Overseas Investment Act, aimed at streamlining the existing system and bringing more foreign investment into the country.
