Latest news with #KaikōuraDistrictCouncil
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Cruise visits expected to halve this summer
Economic uncertainty and rising costs have been cited as reasons for fewer cruise ships planning to visit Kaikōura this summer. Just five cruise ships are scheduled to visit Kaikōura during December, January and February, down from 11 last summer and 16 in summer 2023/24. ''There's lots of reasons. Global uncertainty, Government changes and it has led to less cruise ships planning to come this season,'' Destination Kaikōura manager Lisa Bond said. ''But everything has a cycle. This year we are down to five, but in two years we might be back to 13.'' She said cruise ship companies planned their schedules 18 months or two years ahead, so the global uncertainty was big a factor. But she noted cruise ship schedules are subject to change, depending on weather and other factors. Destination Kaikōura deputy chairperson Lynette Buurman said the ability to attract cruise ships has not been helped by Environment Canterbury increasing its berthage fees. As Kaikōura has small wharves, cruise ships anchor off the coast and bring tourists into the wharf by tender boats. An Environment Canterbury spokesperson said berthage fees depend on the size of the ship, ranging from $7666 for ships less than 100 metres to $16,866 for ships 200 metres or more. Cancellation fees also apply. It covers the costs of chart updates, operation and maintenance of navigation aids, and operation and maintenance of safety management systems. The berthage fees have not changed in the last 12 months, the spokesperson said. Other tourist hot spots are also experiencing sharp declines in cruise ship bookings. Bay of Islands' cruise ship bookings for the 2025/26 season have almost halved from their peak two years ago, from 92 to 47. A cruise ship representative told Local Democracy that cost increases had contributed to the drop. Ms Bond said Kaikōura enjoyed a busy summer and autumn, while King's Birthday weekend, Matariki weekend and the July school holidays brought strong numbers of visitors to the town. April was a particularly strong month, with the spend from domestic visitors up 15 percent compared to last year, while accommodation bookings were up 7%. Strong domestic support continued in May, with the spend up 13% and guest nights up 14% compared to May 2024. Ms Bond said the bulk of domestic visitors come from Canterbury, with visitor numbers from Auckland and Wellington also up. There has also been growth in international visitors, according to visitor data. International visitor spend, excluding accommodation (which is now pre-paid), is up 13%, which suggests either a higher average spend or an increase in day visits. A busy few months are expected, with the Kaikōura Whale Run and the Kaikōura Hop in September, followed by the school holidays, the Mountains to Sea Marathon and Labour Weekend in October, and the Kaikōura Trotting Cup in November, before summer gets into full swing. Destination Kaikōura is a partnership between the Kaikōura District Council and local tourism operators. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Councils ‘Blindsided' By Decision To Halt Planning Work
Councils have been blindsided by the Government's call to halt planning work, which they say will have "unintended consequences". Resource Management Act (RMA) Reform Minister Chris Bishop has put a stop to councils working on District and Regional Plans until the new RMA legislation takes effect. "Rather than let these pricey, pointless planning and policy processes play out, we will be giving councils clarity on where to focus their efforts while they await the new planning system," Bishop said at the Local Government NZ conference in Christchurch on Wednesday. The shake-up of the RMA is expected to come into effect in 2027. Christchurch city councillor Sara Templeton said her council is working a plan change on noise in the central city, which could be placed under threat. The plan change was about "finding a balance between people living in town and the need for a vibrant nightlife", she said. "I'd be frustrated if we couldn't do that work with our communities. "The top-down approach from central government at the moment has had multiple unintended impacts." Cr Templeton called on the Government to work more closely with councils. The Kaikōura District Council has been working through a review of its District Plan, which was adopted in 2008. Council chief executive Will Doughty said the announcement will stifle the council's attempts to make changes to benefit the community. "We have just awarded a contract to our consultants to work on the first two or three chapters. "We always knew reform was underway, but we took an approach to respond to the needs of our community, while being flexible enough to review and respond to any changes." Mr Doughty said the council faced criticism that the "rules are prohibitive", so it was keen to update the plan. Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said his council has been reviewing parts of its District Plan, but its efforts were impacted by constant changes from central Government. "The Government has been signalling changing requirements for a long time, and we wish they would just get on and do it so we can get on and do what we need to do." Mr Kircher said councils had called on the Government to stop signalling changes ahead of legislation, as it set "unrealistic expectations for the community". "Once the Government makes these announcements, people expect us to implement the changes, but it takes time to go through the planning process." Mr Bishop said money is wasted on planning review processes, which is required under the existing RMA. 'The Government will suspend councils' mandatory RMA requirements to undertake plan and regional policy statement reviews every ten years, and the requirement to implement national planning standards." Mr Bishop said there will be some exemptions, including private plan changes and natural hazards planning.
Otago Daily Times
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
'Unintended impacts': Councils ‘blindsided' by decision to halt planning work
Councils say they have been blindsided by the government's call to halt planning work, which they believe will have "unintended consequences". 'Pricey, pointless' council work halted ahead of RMA overhaul Resource Management Act (RMA) Reform Minister Chris Bishop has put a stop to councils working on District and Regional Plans until the new RMA legislation takes effect. "Rather than let these pricey, pointless planning and policy processes play out, we will be giving councils clarity on where to focus their efforts while they await the new planning system," Bishop said at the Local Government NZ conference in Christchurch today. Christchurch city councillor Sara Templeton said her council is working a plan change on noise in the central city, which could be placed under threat. The plan change was about "finding a balance between people living in town and the need for a vibrant nightlife", she said. "I'd be frustrated if we couldn't do that work with our communities. The top-down approach from central government at the moment has had multiple unintended impacts." Cr Templeton called on the government to work more closely with councils. The Kaikōura District Council has been working through a review of its District Plan, which was adopted in 2008. Council chief executive Will Doughty said the announcement will stifle its attempts to make changes to benefit the community. "We have just awarded a contract to our consultants to work on the first two or three chapters. "We always knew reform was under way, but we took an approach to respond to the needs of our community, while being flexible enough to review and respond to any changes." Mr Doughty said the council faced criticism that the "rules are prohibitive", so it was keen to update the plan. Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said his council has been reviewing parts of its District Plan, but its efforts were impacted by constant changes from central government. "The government has been signalling changing requirements for a long time, and we wish they would just get on and do it so we can get on and do what we need to do." Mr Kircher said councils had called on the government to stop signalling changes ahead of legislation, as it set "unrealistic expectations for the community". "Once the government makes these announcements, people expect us to implement the changes, but it takes time to go through the planning process." Mr Bishop said money is wasted on planning review processes, which is required under the existing RMA. 'The government will suspend councils' mandatory RMA requirements to undertake plan and regional policy statement reviews every ten years, and the requirement to implement national planning standards." Mr Bishop said there will be some exemptions, including private plan changes and natural hazards planning.
Otago Daily Times
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Concern govt plan to halt work will impede councils
Councils have been blindsided by the government's call to halt planning work, which they believe will have "unintended consequences". 'Pricey, pointless' council work halted ahead of RMA overhaul Resource Management Act (RMA) Reform Minister Chris Bishop has put a stop to councils working on District and Regional Plans until the new RMA legislation takes effect. "Rather than let these pricey, pointless planning and policy processes play out, we will be giving councils clarity on where to focus their efforts while they await the new planning system," Bishop said at the Local Government NZ conference in Christchurch today. Christchurch City Councillor Sara Templeton said her council is working a plan change on noise in the central city, which could be placed under threat. The plan change was about "finding a balance between people living in town and the need for a vibrant nightlife", she said. "I'd be frustrated if we couldn't do that work with our communities. The top-down approach from central government at the moment has had multiple unintended impacts." Cr Templeton called on the government to work more closely with councils. The Kaikōura District Council has been working through a review of its District Plan, which was adopted in 2008. Council chief executive Will Doughty said the announcement will stifle its attempts to make changes to benefit the community. "We have just awarded a contract to our consultants to work on the first two or three chapters. "We always knew reform was under way, but we took an approach to respond to the needs of our community, while being flexible enough to review and respond to any changes." Mr Doughty said the council faced criticism that the "rules are prohibitive", so it was keen to update the plan. Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said his council has been reviewing parts of its District Plan, but its efforts were impacted by constant changes from central government. "The government has been signalling changing requirements for a long time, and we wish they would just get on and do it so we can get on and do what we need to do." Mr Kircher said councils had called on the government to stop signalling changes ahead of legislation, as it set "unrealistic expectations for the community". "Once the government makes these announcements, people expect us to implement the changes, but it takes time to go through the planning process." Mr Bishop said money is wasted on planning review processes, which is required under the existing RMA. 'The government will suspend councils' mandatory RMA requirements to undertake plan and regional policy statement reviews every ten years, and the requirement to implement national planning standards." Mr Bishop said there will be some exemptions, including private plan changes and natural hazards planning.
Otago Daily Times
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
'Multiple unintended impacts': Councils ‘blindsided' by decision to halt planning work
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop spoke to councillors and mayors at the LGNZ conference in Christchurch today. Photo: Marika Hill / LDR Councils say they have been blindsided by the government's call to halt planning work, which they believe will have "unintended consequences". Resource Management Act (RMA) Reform Minister Chris Bishop has put a stop to councils working on District and Regional Plans until the new RMA legislation takes effect. "Rather than let these pricey, pointless planning and policy processes play out, we will be giving councils clarity on where to focus their efforts while they await the new planning system," Bishop said at the Local Government NZ conference in Christchurch today. Cr Sara Templeton. Photo: Christchurch City Council/ supplied Christchurch city councillor Sara Templeton said her council is working a plan change on noise in the central city, which could be placed under threat. The plan change was about "finding a balance between people living in town and the need for a vibrant nightlife", she said. "I'd be frustrated if we couldn't do that work with our communities. The top-down approach from central government at the moment has had multiple unintended impacts." Cr Templeton called on the government to work more closely with councils. The Kaikōura District Council has been working through a review of its District Plan, which was adopted in 2008. Council chief executive Will Doughty said the announcement will stifle its attempts to make changes to benefit the community. "We have just awarded a contract to our consultants to work on the first two or three chapters. "We always knew reform was under way, but we took an approach to respond to the needs of our community, while being flexible enough to review and respond to any changes." Mr Doughty said the council faced criticism that the "rules are prohibitive", so it was keen to update the plan. Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher Photo: Tess Brunton / RNZ Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said his council has been reviewing parts of its District Plan, but its efforts were impacted by constant changes from central government. "The government has been signalling changing requirements for a long time, and we wish they would just get on and do it so we can get on and do what we need to do." Mr Kircher said councils had called on the government to stop signalling changes ahead of legislation, as it set "unrealistic expectations for the community". "Once the government makes these announcements, people expect us to implement the changes, but it takes time to go through the planning process." Mr Bishop said money is wasted on planning review processes, which is required under the existing RMA. 'The government will suspend councils' mandatory RMA requirements to undertake plan and regional policy statement reviews every ten years, and the requirement to implement national planning standards." Mr Bishop said there will be some exemptions, including private plan changes and natural hazards planning. - By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter • LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
