Latest news with #Toki
Scottish Sun
04-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Inside the beautiful Art Deco hotel with New York-style rooms following £16million makeover
CITY CHIC Inside the beautiful Art Deco hotel with New York-style rooms following £16million makeover Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Queens Hotel Leeds is a newly renovated independent hotel in the very heart of Leeds. One of the centrepieces of the city, with its nouveau art deco style and contemporary vibe, the Queens is the perfect backdrop for your trip to Leeds. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 This hotel boasts a glamorous art deco-style interior Credit: Queens Hotel, Leeds 6 The Queens Hotel has a sleek and trendy bar Credit: Queens Hotel, Leeds Here's everything you need to know about the hotel, from how much rooms cost to what to eat at the restaurant. Where is the Queens Hotel? Found in the landmark location of City Square, The Queens is at the centre of Leeds, a prime and accessible location for a short stay. Located inside Leeds station, it doesn't get more convenient. What is the hotel like? This 232-room Grade II listed hotel is built into the train station, making it the ideal crash pad for a brief city break. Having just undergone a cool £16million refurbishment, the building has returned to its original Art Deco glory. What are the rooms like at the Queens Hotel? The stylish rooms have a New York feel - many overlook the city. If you're out exploring all day, pick the affordable cosy double room, which is snug but functional. Rooms range from the standard cosy double room, all the way to the Presidential suite. There's something for everyone, with an equal amount of comfort provided for each guest. Double rooms start from £125 per night, including breakfast. Book here. Inside Fraser Suites Edinburgh 6 Spacious rooms, large beds and crisp white linen Credit: Queens Hotel, Leeds What is there to eat and drink there? The hotel's Grand Pacific restaurant serves Asian-inspired cuisine such as lamb massaman curry and szechuan tempura sea bass as well as classic steaks, burgers and salads. Wash it down with a cocktail from the bar- including the Singapore sling and the Toki high ball, made with Japanese whisky, maraschino cherry liqueur, peach and soda. Breakfast is a buffer option, serving a full English, croissants, juices and the most delicious triple chocolate muffin I've tasted. There's specials too, at an extra cost, including eggs Benedict, smoked salmon on sourdough and pancakes stacked with blueberries and maple syrup. 6 The breakfast pancakes are a great way to start the day Credit: Queens Hotel, Leeds What else is there to do at the hotel? You're super close to some of Leeds top restaurants, including Pizza Pilgrims and Indian eateries Tharavadu and the delightful Mowgli Street Food. Plus, the city's famous nightlife is on your doorstep as well as excellent shopping in Queens Arcade and Victoria quarter. Is the Queens Hotel family friendly? Yes, The Queens provides the perfect mixture of grown-up relaxation and kid-friendly fun. Children under 16 stay for free when sharing a room with a parent or guardian. The central location of the hotel allows easy access to child-friendly attractions including The National Science Museum, the Royal Armouries and Tropical World. Is there access for guests with disabilities? Yes, the hotel offers a range of facilities for guests, and encourages you to get in contact to inquire for more detail. Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here. 6 The hotel is a great stop for families, with zoos and museums nearby Credit: Queens Hotel, Leeds
The Irish Sun
04-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Inside the beautiful Art Deco hotel with New York-style rooms following £16million makeover
THE Queens Hotel Leeds is a newly renovated independent hotel in the very heart of Leeds. One of the centrepieces of the city, with its nouveau Advertisement 6 This hotel boasts a glamorous art deco-style interior Credit: Queens Hotel, Leeds 6 The Queens Hotel has a sleek and trendy bar Credit: Queens Hotel, Leeds Here's everything you need to know about the hotel, from how much rooms cost to what to eat at the restaurant. Where is the Queens Hotel? Found in the landmark location of Located inside Leeds station, it doesn't get more convenient. What is the hotel like? This 232-room Grade II listed hotel is built into the train station, making it the ideal crash pad for a brief city break. Advertisement Read more on hotel reviews Having just undergone a cool £16million refurbishment, the building has returned to its original Art Deco glory. What are the rooms like at the Queens Hotel? The stylish rooms have a If you're out exploring all day, pick the affordable cosy double room, which is snug but functional. Rooms range from the standard cosy double room, all the way to the Advertisement Most read in News Travel There's something for everyone, with an equal amount of comfort provided for each guest. Double rooms start from £125 per night, including breakfast. Inside Fraser Suites Edinburgh 6 Spacious rooms, large beds and crisp white linen Credit: Queens Hotel, Leeds What is there to eat and drink there? The hotel's Grand Pacific restaurant serves Asian-inspired cuisine such as lamb massaman Advertisement Wash it down with a cocktail from the bar- including the Singapore sling and the Toki high ball, made with Japanese whisky, maraschino cherry liqueur, peach and soda. Breakfast is a buffer option, serving a full English, croissants, juices and the most delicious triple chocolate muffin I've tasted. There's specials too, at an extra cost, including eggs Benedict, smoked salmon on sourdough and 6 The breakfast pancakes are a great way to start the day Credit: Queens Hotel, Leeds Advertisement What else is there to do at the hotel? You're super close to some of Leeds top restaurants, including Pizza Pilgrims and Indian eateries Tharavadu and the delightful Mowgli Street Food. Plus, the city's famous nightlife is on your doorstep as well as excellent shopping in Queens Arcade and Victoria quarter. Is the Queens Hotel family friendly? Yes, The Queens provides the perfect mixture of grown-up relaxation and kid-friendly fun. Children under 16 stay for free when sharing a room with a parent or guardian. Advertisement The central location of the hotel allows easy access to child-friendly attractions including The National Science Museum, the Royal Armouries and Tropical World. Is there access for guests with disabilities? Yes, the hotel offers a range of facilities for guests, and encourages you to get in contact to inquire for more detail. Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here. 6 The hotel is a great stop for families, with zoos and museums nearby Credit: Queens Hotel, Leeds Advertisement 6 The queens hotel stands proud in the heart of Leeds Credit: Queens Hotel, Leeds
Otago Daily Times
29-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Wapiti presence key for park: advocates
Eliminating wapiti from Fiordland National Park will end up destroying the park, a backer of the exotic breed says. Earlier this month, Forest & Bird hit out at Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager's announcement the government planned to make wapiti a herd of special interest that would allow them to live in Fiordland National Park. Forest & Bird chief executive Nicola Toki questioned why help would be given to 512 hunters shooting 86 deer in a national park. The introduced feral species damaged the natural habitat of endangered species. Fiordland Wapiti Foundation founder and general manager Roy Sloan was baffled by the comments from Forest & Bird and said the wapiti were helping conservation efforts. He was aware Ms Toki had been into the area to see the foundation's conservation work. He also said Ms Toki's figures were incorrect. ''What about the 1200 deer that we shoot every year for the benefit of conservation outcomes? ''It's not about a big vege patch, it's about who is protecting the sanctuary.'' The foundation's ''number one purpose'' was to protect Fiordland National Park, he said. Controlling the deer numbers also managed their impact and maintained the quality of the animal. ''We're the only ones undertaking deer control in Fiordland National Park,'' Mr Sloan said. Forest & Bird said undermining the incredible landscapes and habitats of Fiordland National Park so a few hunters could shoot a small number of deer each year was catering to a handful of vested interests at the expense of all New Zealanders. ''To be clear, Forest & Bird is not anti-hunting. Hunting is part of the toolbox in tackling the out-of-control numbers of browsing animals that are causing significant damage to New Zealand's environment and many of our members are keen hunters. However, we are equally clear that putting precious time and taxpayer money into a Herd of Special Interest is not a priority.'' It said the government was looking at changing the law to let a North American deer species use the national park as a ''glorified vege patch''. Hunters also donated multiple tonnes of venison to food banks and KiwiHarvest. Doc national programmes director Ben Reddiex said the organisation monitored all deer populations and vegetation but also supported the foundation's work. The foundation managed wapiti in a designated area to limit wapiti-red deer hybrid offspring being established by the red deer that were widespread throughout the park. Mr Sloan believed if wapiti were removed and the foundation closed, the park would be decimated by the red deer population which hunters helped to keep under control. The foundation had been managing the wapiti population since 1991 and members considered themselves ''guardians''. The foundation had also managed, paid for, and operated more than 550 predator control traps in five river catchments in the Glaisnock Wilderness area to protect native birds since its predator trapping programme started in 2005. Hunters reported bird species sightings via an app and had amassed more than 40,000 hours of native bird monitoring each year or the equivalent of 20 years' work for one person, he said. Since 2005, members had seen the threatened Northern Fiordland whio (blue duck) population increase to up to 3000 birds. The ducks are particularly vulnerable to stoats. Other native bird species had also benefited from the predator control programme, he said. One of the last strongholds of kiwi was in the designated wapiti area. The foundation's goals had always been conservation first and based on having a low number of high-quality healthy wapiti that enabled the native fauna and flora to thrive — a healthy environment also meant a healthy wapiti herd, Mr Sloan said. The foundation's conservation model was attracting international interest as ''one of the top models on the planet''.
Otago Daily Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
The wapiti exception
At first glance, the plan to grant wapiti deer special status in Fiordland National Park seems inappropriate. Wapiti damage the forest understorey through browsing. When deer, tahr, and goats proliferate unchecked, the destruction across forests, valleys, and alpine pastures becomes severe. Forest & Bird chief executive Nicola Toki said this week that the proposal to designate the wapiti as a herd of special interest (Hosi) amounts to the government "looking at changing the law to let a North American deer species use the national park as a glorified vege patch". She argued it was "eating away at the very natural heritage that these sanctuaries have been legally designed to protect. What next? A sanctuary for stoats?" The plan was catering to a handful of vested interests at the expense of all New Zealanders, she said. Ms Toki said Forest & Bird was baffled by the prioritisation of government time and energy into helping 512 hunters shoot 86 deer in a national park. Scepticism surrounding the move is heightened by widespread concerns about the government's alleged tendency to cater to vested interests, as well as Act New Zealand's connections to the gun and hunting lobbies. Cementing the place for a non-native species in a national park raises concerns, particularly given the National Park Act stipulates: "Introduced plants and animals shall as far as possible be exterminated." As a matter of principle, Forest & Bird would struggle to support the planned status for the wapiti. Last year, the organisation sought a judicial review of an agreement between the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, arguing that the agreement did not comply with the National Parks Act. The review has since been paused. Under the agreement, the foundation is permitted to manage a wapiti herd while undertaking pest control and other conservation efforts in the area. Whatever the concerns over principle and precedent, strong pragmatic and practical arguments support the Hosi designation and the government's parallel plan to amend the law, clarifying that a herd of special interest can be established in national parks. The foundation manages six back-country huts and more than 500 predator-control traps in the wapiti area. Its annual ballot attracts thousands of domestic and international hunters. Wapiti, known as elk overseas, were given to New Zealand by United States president Theodore Roosevelt in 1905. They have since interbred with red deer, and wapiti remain prized trophy animals. Ecologist Cam Speedy, who works with the foundation, said the wapiti efforts over 200,000ha of Fiordland had yielded positive outcomes for both the environment and hunters. Wapiti density was only two to four per hectare, the lowest deer density in almost all Fiordland. Combined with the pest control that Doc could never undertake, the environment and native birdlife were thriving, more so than in almost all the rest of the park. By harnessing hunters' energy, the initiative enhanced environmental, cultural, social, and economic values, Mr Speedy said. It is in the foundation's interests to maintain relatively low numbers and ensure healthy forests — an approach that ultimately improves the quality of the stags and their antlers. There are occasions when the Department of Conservation can collaborate with hunters to manage deer or tahr populations. More often, however, hunters alone cannot be relied upon to keep numbers sufficiently low, and the resulting ecological damage is serious and enduring. The Wapiti Foundation's efforts in Fiordland, now firmly established, represent an exception and should be regarded as such. Nevertheless, periodic reviews and independent monitoring could add another layer of long-term assurance. Wapiti could never be fully "exterminated" from the national park. Instead, a controlled approach has emerged, offering multiple benefits. Formally designating the population as a herd of special interest should help secure these advantages.
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Forest & Bird Says National Parks Not Game Parks
The week after the Government published an action plan which skirts around a $1.5 billion gap in funding for conservation, Forest & Bird is baffled by the prioritisation of government time and energy into helping 512 hunters shoot 86 deer in a national park. 'It's hard to put into words just how questionable this decision is,' says Forest & Bird Chief Executive, Nicola Toki. 'The Minister has today announced he is going to start a process to provide special protected status to Wapiti deer, an introduced feral species contributing to biodiversity damage in Fiordland National Park – home to unique and much-loved endangered species such as kākāpō, kiwi, kea, pīwauwau rock wren, and whio blue duck.' Fiordland National Park forms part of Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, which covers 2.6 million hectares (almost 10% of Aotearoa New Zealand's total land area). It is recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the largest and least modified area of New Zealand's natural ecosystems and the world's best intact modern representation of the ancient biota of Gondwana. "Instead of trying to ensure Fiordland can welcome kākāpō back to their home, this Government is instead looking at changing the law to let a North American deer species use the national park as a glorified vege patch – eating away at the very natural heritage that these sanctuaries have been legally designed to protect. What's next? A sanctuary for stoats?' Ms Toki says. 'New Zealanders expect our Government to look after public conservation land and our national parks have always been the jewels in the crown. That's why in 2010 the previous National government had to do an embarrassing U-turn on its plan to mine in national parks after a massive public outcry.' Undermining the incredible landscapes and habitats of Fiordland National Park so that a few hunters can shoot a small number of deer each year, is catering to a handful of vested interests at the expense of all New Zealanders. Forest & Bird is appalled at the ongoing attacks on conservation land. "This is merely the latest salvo in this government's war on nature,' Ms Toki says. 'Is there nothing that this Government won't do to our precious places including conservation land and national parks? Mining on the Denniston plateau, commercial fishing carve-outs in the Hauraki Gulf, selling off conservation land, and now game parks instead of national parks. 'New Zealanders are deeply concerned at this constant erosion of conservation in the very places that the Government has been charged with protecting. 'To be clear, Forest & Bird is not anti-hunting. Hunting is part of the toolbox in tackling the out-of-control numbers of browsing animals that are causing significant damage to New Zealand's environment and many of our members are keen hunters. Forest & Bird is supportive of the role the hunting community can and does play in helping to stem the tide of deer, pig, and goat numbers. However, we are equally clear that putting precious time and taxpayer money into a Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) is not a priority.'
