Stories by Tess Brunton
News
'It's going to be a challenging summer' - tour manager
Backpacker bookings are looking healthy but the industry is worried it is on the back foot following multiple closures and ongoing staffing shortages.
Gore mayor loses bid for executive assistant: 'It is a luxury item'
Gore district's new mayor Ben Bell has lost a bid for his own executive assistant.
'A lot of them should come back' - Indigenous Australians celebrate return of taonga
An Ōtepoti museum has returned cultural artefacts first taken from Indigenous Australians more than a century ago.
Tourism figures urge new industry vision for youth: 'A future career and a lifelong goal'
Emerging tourism leaders are urging young people to start thinking of the industry as a career and not just short-term jobs on the way to something better.
Climate change impacts weigh on New Zealand tourism industry
Tourism leaders are grappling with the future of their industry as the impacts and disruptions of climate change become more widely felt. Audio
Dunedin buzzing as FIFA World Cup 2023 tickets go on sale
Some matches for the 2023 Women's Football World Cup are nearly sold out despite individual tickets going on sale earlier today.
Cherry growers hopeful for harvest but wary of challenges
In Central Otago, the cherry blossoms are slowly giving way to fruit after a colder start to spring.
Queenstown's TSS Earnslaw steams toward greener future
The Lady of the Lake - Queenstown's TSS Earnslaw - has celebrated 110 years since it first set sail. But its owners say it has not run out of steam yet.
Ski fields rely on snow-making tech to stay open
South Island ski field operators are increasingly looking to rely on snow-making technology to keep runs open as the climate changes and snowfall is less reliable.
New Invercargill Mayor points to different leadership style after Sir Tim's departure
Invercargill ratepayers are coming to grips with a city without long-serving mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt at the helm.
Nobby Clark steps into Tim Shadbolt's shoes as mayor of Invercargill
Nobby Clark has taken the top job in Invercargill, ousting the country's longest serving mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt.
'Felt worse than jail' - Potential human rights breaches in emergency housing
The Human Rights Commission says the government-funded emergency and transitional housing system has potentially breached human rights.
Glacier towns frozen by lack of staffing, capacity as tourists return
Staffing shortages and reduced airline capacity are hampering West Coast businesses as they attempt to brush the cobwebs off their mothballed operations. Audio
Short-staffed Queenstown businesses prepare to welcome all tourists this summer
Tourists in Queenstown arrived before the workers did this winter - putting businesses on high alert.
Hundreds of jobs on offer in Queenstown recruitment drive
There were more than 600 jobs on offer in Queenstown at a recruitment event last night but only roughly 100 prospective employees to fill the vacancies.
Rotorua businesses call for govt intervention into 'detrimental' emergency housing crisis
Rotorua businesses are calling for the government to intervene in emergency housing as the iconic destination prepares for an influx of summer tourists.
Sir Tim Shadbolt no-show at Invercargill mayoral debate
Invercargill's incumbent mayor of more than 20 years was a no show at the latest mayoral debate, but nine challengers picked up the gauntlet and shared their vision for the southern city.
New catch limits proposed for recreational fishers in Fiordland
Recreational fishers in Fiordland are being encouraged to fish for a feed, not the freezer under proposed rule changes.
Glenorchy at risk of severe liquefaction in quake, also flooding, study finds
Glenorchy is a small, idyllic settlement just down the road from a place called Paradise. But its residents face an uncertain future after a study detailed significant natural hazards.
Hospitality boss' plea: 'Backpackers have been a major part of what we do'
Queenstown businesses want New Zealand to attract high value tourists but not at the expense of those on a budget, after the Tourism Minister's pitch to big-spending travellers.
Mataura residents seek answers on flood protection
It will be months before Mataura residents know the full extent of the flooding risk after discovering capacity issues with their stop banks.
'The rubber has got to hit the road' - tourism operators on action plan
Tourism operators say a vision of how to improve labour conditions and strengthen the workforce through regenerative tourism presents exciting opportunities.
Government reveals plan to make tourism a more appealing career option
The Tourism Minister has unveiled a vision of how to strengthen the tourism and hospitality workforces and improve conditions.
Call for govt-backed campaign to attract young people on working holidays
The tourism industry is scrambling to find enough staff before the expected influx of tourists this summer.
Tick of approval for floodworks as rain eases after soaking south
Dunedin is still dealing with road closures, surface flooding, slips and a big cleanup job after a major dousing.