Volume 19, No. 3

KIWIS SECOND MOST OPTIMISTIC

New Zealand consumers arc the second most optimistic in the world, according to a global survey.

The ACNielsen survey conducted in November put New Zealanders’ confidence index at 123 points, nine points behind Indians who remained at the top of the global list.

The survey polled over 23,500 regular Internet users in 42 markets in Europe, North and South America, Emerging Markets and Asia Pacific.

Consumers in Asia-Pacific continue to ride a wave of economic development, with their confidence index increasing in nine out of 13 markets, ACNielsen says.

When asked what they do with any money left after covering essential living expenses, Asians, Australians and New Zealanders were found to be mostly focused on savings and paying off debt.

Holidays came second on the list, with 35% of Asia-Pacific Internet users saying they use their spare cash for relaxation and traveling.

The survey found consumers’ confidence in their local economies, job prospects and personal finances is on the rise globally.

The ACNielsen Consumer Confidence Index, introduced by the research company last year grew from the average 92 points in May 2005 to 98 points in November, with two thirds of countries experiencing an increase in consumer confidence.

The world’s most optimistic consumers live in Asia-Pacific and North America while European consumers remain the most cautious for economic recovery.

While Indians are the world’s most optimistic, the Portuguese are the most pessimistic, the survey found.

Source: TVNZ Interactive

MT COOK SKI PLANES TAKE OFF AGAIN

It’s been just over 50 years since a Mount Cook ski plane first landed successfully on snow in New Zealand.

But the planes ceased operating in the 1990s after Air New Zealand bought its parent company, Mount Cook Airlines, and sold off the remaining assets to Tourism Holdings.

Until recently that is, when two South Islanders made it their mission to get the ski planes off the ground once more.

The Southern Alps offer some of the country’s most spectacular scenery.

The ability to walk amongst it has been made possible thanks to the persistence of Mount Cook Ski Planes chief executive Alex Miller and his business partner.

“I have to pinch myself today to think that I actually am a part owner of this business,” Miller says. “It’s an iconic business with a rich aviation heritage.”

It’s a heritage that started with a small South Island family business in the l950s, becoming a major airline flying in from different routes around the country.

Air New Zealand eventually snapped up Mount Cook Airlines but sold it off piece by piece in the early ‘90s. The company’s ski planes were picked up and dusted off nearly two years ago by Miller and his partner.

And now it’s a case of back to the future.

“When we took the company over it was a remnant in a way, compared to the major company. With two South Island owners, it’s really back to the beginnings in a way,” Miller says.

There’s been turbulence along the way.

Good weather is vital for the planes to land but can’t be relied on.

1

Miller says the first two seasons have been tough weather wise.

There's also high compliance cost to deal with and the price of concession passes causes constant debate. But it's not exactly hard to sell the product.

"Fabulous, really amazing," declares one tourist as he steps off the plane on the snow after a scenic flight.

The company now flies around 15,000 people a year in their eight ski planes, over the region's breathtaking scenery,

It costs between $300 and $400 to get to the area on a Mount Cook plane, but that doesn't deter tourists, who are most of the market.

"This is unbelievable. There aren't any words for it," one tourist enthuses.

And unlike other services of its type, there aren't any sounds for it either-only the silence of the white mountain surrounds.

Compared to other aviation services that may be landing on the snow we shut (the) airplane engine down so you get this natural quiet which is fundamental to the product," Miller says.

The company has eight planes operating and while there's no plan to revive the fleet of 14 planes it had in its heyday, there are new additions, like a West Coast airstrip saving some customers the five-hour drive to Mount Cook Village.

While the weather has marred the last two seasons, the company credits its staff for staying air borne.

"I reckon one in four seasons is a bumper- I'm hoping next season will be a bumper," Miller says. "It's quite amazing really, a very special place. It's so easy to have a job where you are giving so much pleasure."

Source: ASB Business/TVNZ Interactive.

DIVE! TUTUKAKA

On his way from the office to a meeting, the director of Dive! Tutukaka, Jeroen Jongejans, makes a detour, throwing on a wetsuit instead of a pinstripe suit, to help save a stranded dolphin.

It's all in a day's work for Jongejans, who in the last five years has turned a small three-boat venture into one of the best dive centres in the world.

Earlier this year, the Northland dive charter company was named the most outstanding dive centre in the South East Asia Pacific region by the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI). It also became the first and only dive centre in New Zealand to be awarded the status

of a National Geographic Dive Centre, teaching a recreational scuba diving programme promoting underwater exploration and marine conservation.

Dive! Tutukaka, owned by Jongejans and Aussie MalcOlm, now operates seven ocean-going vessels which take more than 12,000 people to the Poor Knights Islands, off the Tutukaka coast, every year.

Jongejans puts the swift success down to running a business that is sustainable-economically, en vironmentally and socially. "If we don't do it this way, we will lose all that we have here," he says. "It's a destination that gets better each year-the fish life is flourishing with the sinking of the HMNZS Tui and Waikato, and the total marine status placed on the islands. We run a very good marketing campaign here and overseas, with camera crews coming from around the world. The number of international clients, the big spenders, is increasing rapidly."

Dive! Tutukaka provides dive charter trips, snorkeling and kayaking around the Poor Knights, and extensive dive training. Its latest adventure is CaveRider, an Ecotour jetboat ride to the world's largest sea cave with a commentary on the diverse history of the islands.

It's not only about the marine life, and the flora and fauna, but the cultural history-the Maori occupation of the land by the Ngatiwai people, and the massacre that took place there by a rival tribe in the early 1800s. "We are constantly working with DoC and the local Maori so we have a broad understanding of the archaeology and the history of the islands," Jongejans said. "It's important for people to understand who lived here and how they lived here."

Jongejans came to New Zealand from the Netherlands 25 years ago, and set out to make the Poor Knights the dive capital of New Zealand. He's achieved his goal with the help of "a dedicated and educated crew who love what they are doing. This business is not just about making money, but about being responsible citizens," he says.

"One of the strongest things you must have is passion for what you are doing-then people catch it from us. You give someone a stone, and if you can tell the story of the stone, the stone becomes alive. It's all about interpretation and sharing."

YOUR LETTERS AND STORIES ARE MORE THAN WELCOME!

2

THE YUPPIE AND THE SHEPHERD

A shepherd was herding his flock in a remote NZ pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW 535i advanced out of a dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in an Armani suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the shepherd, "If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?"

The shepherd looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answers, "Sure. Why not?"

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his Telstra mobile phone. He surfs to a NASA page on the internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra high resolution photo. The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with hundreds of complex formulas. He uploads all of this data via an email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response. Finally, he prints out a full- colour, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP Laster Jet printer and finally turns to the shepherd and says, "You have exactly 1586 sheep."

"That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my sheep," says the shepherd. He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.

Then the shepherd says to the young man, "Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give back my animal?"

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, "Okay, why not?"

"You're a consultant." says the shepherd.

"Wow! That's correct," says the yuppie, "but how did you guess that?"

"No guessing required," answered the shepherd.

"You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew; to a question I never asked; and you don't know crap about my business.

"Now give me back my dog." -

AIR NZ SUSPENDS CHCH - LA FLIGHTS

Air New Zealand says it will suspend direct flights from Christchurch to Los Angeles from April.

The national carrier says there are insufficient passenger numbers to sustain the twice-weekly service in the off-season from April to October.

"Last year we operated a service on this route once a week, from April through to October, with disappointing results as most traffic during the Northern Hemisphere summer is traditionally outbound from New Zealand," says Air New Zealand spokesman Norm Thompson.

The airline says most off-season traffic is outbound from New Zealand.

Christchurch customers will have to connect with services to and from Auckland, although the airline says they won't have to pay any extra for doing this.

Air New Zealand commenced the Christchurch - Los Angeles service in November 2004 and operated thrice-weekly services until March 2005 when these were reduced to one service a week.

The thrice-weekly services were reinstated in mid-December 2005 but passenger numbers have been less than expected during the current peak summer months.

Air New Zealand says three flights a week be tween Christchurch and Los Angeles will resume at the end of October.

Source: TVNZ Interactive/RNZ

WAITOMO CAVES SECURITY BEEFED UP

(from TVNZ.co.nz)

Security at the Waitomo Caves has been beefed up to prevent further intrusions after vandals broke into the famous limestone caves.

Management have taken extra security precautions since the limestone walls of the glow- worm caves were spray painted with obscenities.

The caves reopened two days later.

Police say the vandals slipped through security and splattered white acrylic paint onto various formations in the cave system.

The caves were closed while DOC and staff monitored the clean up and tried to limit the damage to the world famous limestone formations.

Sergeant Craig Lindstrorn says there is no apparent motive for the attack and the obscene messages painted onto the cave walkways were not directed at any particular person or organization.

3

Management say they are appalled and sickened by the mindless actions of the vandals.

Police say there is no indication the vandalism is related to a recent fire which destroyed the main tourist centre and management are playing down any link between the vandalism and fire.

The fire, two weeks previously, destroyed the attraction's visitor centre.

Chief executive Grant Webster says he hopes the incidents are not part of a campaign of ill-will directed at the business.

He says the tourist operation has bounced back quickly from both setbacks with the caves now reopened after experts removed paint from the walls.

WELCOME TO GLACIER COUNTRY

Living remnants of the ice ages carve a spectacular landscape on their advance from the vast snow and ice fields of New Zealand's Southern Alps to their terminal face just 300 metres above sea level in the lush rainforests of the beautiful West Coast.

"We saw what appeared to be a streak of mist running between two peaks ... Abreast of Mount Cook, close inshore, we could see distinctly that it was an immense field of ice, entirely filling up the valley and running far down into the low land." - Frances and Young, explorers from Canterbury in their ship's log, 1859.

friendly atmosphere remained. Enterprising young men saw a future in operating excursions up on the ice and by the 1900s tracks and bridges were built to provide access onto the glaciers. Formal clothing and inadequate equipment did not deter the early visitors. With a few temporary nails in the soles of their shoes, ladies and gentlemen adorned in long dresses and bow ties were soon regularly exploring the glaciers carefully assisted by early mountain guides.

At the present time the West Coast of the Southern Alps is an adventure and outdoor paradise. With a large range of accommodation options to choose from, there is plenty of time to explore this spectacular region. There are beach and forest walks to suit all ages and abilities, tourism experiences, caving, rafting, canoeing and kavaking, surfing, jet-skiing, glacier walks, scenic flights, mountain biking. horse treks, fishing, gold panning, to name but a few.

The West Coast is also becoming increasingly famous for its world class artists and craftspeople. The dramatic landscapes attract a growing number of national and international artists who value a lifestyle hard to find in more populated places. Local arts are showcased in the region's many galleries, museums, craft shops and cafes. Visitors will discover dozens of artists and craftspeople tucked away in hidden valleys and small towns all along the West Coast.

The region is populated by only 31,000 people, known to New Zealanders as "Coasters", a term synonymous with friendliness and hospitality. Isolated from the rest of the country by the Southern Alps, Coasters have developed a distinctive culture of their own, where the pioneering values of self-reliance and hospitality are as strong now as they were a century ago.

Today you'll find museums and historic build ings, fine food and cuisine, a range of accommodation options and first-class local guides who add to your enjoyment of the West Coast's hundreds of natural, historic and adventure experiences.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FROM ROTORUA COULD START NEXT YEAR (Fairfax NZ Ltd)

International flights in and out of Rotorua Airport could start by the middle of next year.

Rotorua Regional Airport Company chairman Neil Oppatt said a 140m runway extension was given the go-ahead recently by the Rotorua District Council.

Mr. Oppatt said aircraft were moving away from the present 737 300s to A320s, which had more

4

powerful engines and need a shorter runway for take off.

He said he hoped chartered international flights between Rotorua and Australia would start in June of this year.

"And I have found my slice of paradise right here in Coopers Beach, NZ. There is nothing like it anywhere else where I've traveled or lived. What I will share because I tell everyone this-my impression of the US is "excess"-everything is excessive-the size of the meals, the size of the cars, the speed of the cars, the size of the stores, the size of the stack of apples at the supermarket, the size of the cups at coffee places or sandwich places or anywhere (when I was younger, you could hold a 'large' cup with one hand!), the amount of consumerism and the 'throw away' mentality-it is all overwhelming. A friend of mine in San Diego rephrased it for me and said the word is really 'wasteful' and he admitted he is just like 'everyone else' in that regard. I can't live that way. Or better, I choose not to live that way."

And that's that. I think most of us can agree with her feelings.

The next American Crones Counsel national meeting will be in late September 2006 in Boulder, Colorado.

NZ CITIES AMONGST MOST EXPENSIVE

A new survey shows New Zealand's major cities are edging their way up the list of the world's most expensive places to live.

The biannual survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) compares the cost of goods and services in dollar terms. The study says Auckland is the 29th most expensive city and Wellington the 32nd.

Oslo took the top spot from Tokyo for the first time in 14 years, Iceland's capital Reykjavik jumped to third place ahead of Japan's Osaka and eight of the top 10 cities are in Europe.

New York, the highest-ranked city, slipped to 27th place.

The rise of Oslo and other European cities partly reflects the long-term underperformance of the US currency.

"The displacement of Tokyo comes as little surprise. A gradually weakening yen has been compounded by years of low inflation and delation in the Japanese economy," the EIU said.

"Norway has seen strong economic growth following a recovery in 2004, enjoying high consumer confidence, rampant investment and still-low interest rates."

Several eastern European countriçs also became more expensive. The main cities in Serbia and

5

Montenegro. Romania, Ukraine. Poland, the Czech Republic and Turkey all saw a relative increase of more than 5% in the cost of living.

In Latin America. the two biggest jumps came in Brazil. with Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo climbing 22 places to joint 87th on the back of a 25% rise in the currency and rising consumer prices.

Iran's capital city Tehran, which knocked Tokyo out of first place in 1991 after its currency was revalued, is at the bottom of the list this year.

The study ranked 130 cities.

Source: RNZ/Reuters

KRUSE CONTROL

Many visitors self-driving their way around New Zealand are now enjoying a significantly enhanced traveling experience, thanks to the innovative new KRUSE in-car commentary system.

KRUSE uses GPS navigational technology and a vehicle's stereo system to provide a commentary about local landmarks, history, legends. culture, flora and fauna as travelers drive throughout New Zealand.

It's the brainchild of Jonathan Kruse, who came up with the idea while producing multi-lingual commentary tapes for tour bus operators in 1996.

"Although other technologies have been experimented with, these systems were designed to meet the needs of bus and boat tour operators," says Jonathan Kruse. "Until the advent of KRUSE, self- driving tourists have had to rely on guide books."

Using the KRUSE is a simple matter of plugging the "box" into the cigarette lighter, tuning the radio to the right frequency and driving away. Where appropriate, KRUSE incorporates characters, music and sound effects to bring the stories to life.

Jonathan Kruse says because the system is new and as yet relatively unknown, hireage has been priced at a level to encourage tourists to think it worth trying. The cost for more than seven days hire is $8 per day and for shorter periods $10 per day.

"We have had very positive response from those who have used the KRUSE, says Jonathan Kruse. "People have said they have learned so much more about the country and how fantastic it was to have the information provided automatically as they drove through an area."

"We loved the historical information and Maori stories on the Kruse system," said one German couple.

Mr. Kruse says, "We are always looking for more interesting stories and history about areas and as these come to light, they are added to the system. In major centres we alert the tourist to the locations of the information offices and leave it to them to advise about what the tourists might like to see and do while in the area."

Jonathan Kruse believes the concept of KRUSE for self-drive tourism is a world first, and says several countries have expressed interest in the system. "Currently we are constructing a similar commentary network for Hawaii that should be available this coming season. We are also in discussion with a number of international organizations who wish to work in partnership with us to bring the KRUSE technology to their tourist markets, in particular Canada, USA and Australia.

TREATY COMING TO ALL NEW ZEALAND

Seven days to write. Seven months to sign. 165 years to debate, and counting ...

Whitu ra hei tuhi, Whitu marama hei haina, Kotahi rau, ono te kau ma rima tau hei whakawhiti korero, tatai tonu.

A major new exhibition will enable New Zealanders throughout the country to discover more about the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Treaty 2 U exhibition is a collaborative project between the National Library, Archives New Zealand, Te Papa and the Treaty Information Unit of the State Services Commission. A specially built exhibition truck, which folds out into a flexible exhibition space, is hitting the road this summer to visit cities and towns throughout New Zealand.

The exhibition will explore the period prior to and around the signing of the Treaty in 1840, the differences between the English and Maori versions, why the various parties chose to (or chose not to) sign and what results the people of the time were hoping for from the Treaty. And it looks at where the Treaty is taking New Zealand now.

The tour kicked off in Taupo on January 14, before taking in towns throughout the country.

FROM pim DODGE, TRAVEL WRITER, HOST AND SPEAKER

Many have expressed interest in another Australian-New Zealand trip for next fall. Our fall is their spring-weather is great for traveling, flowers

6

are just up and in bloom and it is a GREAT time to go Down Under.

We would fly probably to the North Island of New Zealand, spending time there in Rotorua, visiting the home of the Maori natives, the Agrodome, a fabulous animal show, Rainbow Springs, and other cities... then of course we would be privileged to attend a hangi (a typical Maori feast). From here it's to the South Island and to Queenstown, Christchurch and a visit to one of the most beautiful places in the world, Milford Sound.

OR-we might fly first into Sydney or Cairns, on the Great Barrier Reef. Visits in Australia would include Melbourne, Phillips Island and the Fairy Penguins, Canberra and animal parks to view some of the wildlife!!

I have NO brochures yet-but have sent to a number of companies for them, trying to get us the very best tour for the least money. As you are well aware, Australia and New Zealand have become a choice spot to visit and each year thousands more go. Prices go up each year too-and especially now with the cost of gas as it is.

As always, as I tell you, IF you are interested, PLEASE let me know-these tours sell out quickly and I wouldn't want you to lose out.

(pim Dodge, P0 Box 769, 649 Crystal Ave., Frankfort, Ml 49635.

231-352-6013. pimd@benzie.com)

From WYSIWYG NEWS by Brian Harmer

(Copyright by Brian Hanner, reprinted by permission)

My preoccupation with the trip to Melbourne and Brisbane in recent issues almost made me miss the extraordinary season for Pohutukawa blossoms in Wellington. There is a popular urban legend suggesting that if they bloom before Christmas, a long hot summer is in prospect. This season, they were in full and glorious crimson colour in the first week of December. Magnificent shows of colour were to be seen in all the usual places, and especially along the Hutt Road at the Petone foreshore, and around Oriental Bay. For most of the year, when they are not in bloom, it is easy to forget that these trees are, in fact, pohutukawa. For eleven months they are merely sturdy drab green trees of no special attraction. In the one month of their season, they outshine all our other native trees. By Christmas this year, they were already at the dusty red stage that precedes the imminent dropping of their petals onto the earth below. By now, their display is almost entirely exhausted. Amazing. I have never seen the season peak and end so early.

Unfortunately, the implied "long, hot summer" has yet to be realized. There have been some warm days, and there have been some fairly vigorous and blustery gales. Fortunately Wellingtonians know how to deal with wind, so as far as I know, no buildings or trees fell over, despite a few days of persistent shuddering wind gusting to 160 km/h.

The weather has been truly odd so far, with calm hot summer days interspersed with gales and sudden downpours. There is no consistent pattern that you might identify with a normal summer. Despite this, summer sporting events have proceeded. The Sri Lankan cricketers have been, lost four of their five one day internationals and have gone to Australia where they are suffering a similar fate. The Heineken Tennis tournament in Auckland finished this weekend. International beach volleyball has taken place at Oriental Bay.

People are swimming at beaches and in rivers. Others are setting out on hikes over the many magnificent walkways with which our region is blessed. Anthony and Sarah set out with infant Maggie in a papoose on his back from Eastbourne over the hill to Butterfly Creek and back. Yachts are sprinkled liberally over the great expanse of our lovely harbour. Wildflowers are in bloom on the roadsides. In the shops and at roadside stalls, stone fruit are in plentiful supply, and the succulent smell of barbecues is everywhere. People are generally living and feeling as if it really is summer.

AKAROA WALK - Christchurch to Akaroa

The Akaroa Walk is rapidly becoming an icon among New Zealand hiking adventures. It is a 39 km, upmarket, three day, guided walk, You travel along the Summit Ridge and across Banks Peninsula, in the Canterbury Region of the beautiful South Island of New Zealand.

Features of the walk include:

Your trip is guided and your bags are transported for you. Only a daypack for refreshments is needed. A moderate level of fitness is required.

The walk starts with a gondola ride from the edge of the City of Chnstchurch to the Summit Ridge. Christchurch is an international airport and is the gateway to the South Island. Apart from transport across town there is no extra traveling to the start of the walk.

Good quality accommodation is provided and meals are included in the price. On two of the nights you experience excellent restaurant meals (wine and

7

other beverages are available at your cost). The other evening features a NZ barbeque with fresh Akaroa salmon and complimentary local wines or other beverages.

You will experience unsurpassed views of the Southern Alps, Canterbury Plains, Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Port Levy, Okuti, French Farm Valley, Kaituna, Wainui, Lake Forsyth, Lake Ellesmere and Akaroa.

You complete the walk in the historic French settlement of Akaroa.

PROPOSED MILFORD TUNNEL GIVEN THUMBS DOWN (Fairfax NZ Ltd)

A proposed new 10.2km tourist tunnel linking the Routeburn and Hollyford valleys was taking Milford tourism in all the wrong directions, Southland District Mayor Frana Cardno says.

Milford Dart director Tom Elworthy unveiled the Dart Passage proposal. The $150 million tunnel, open only to the company's fleet of hybrid electric buses, was expected to cut travel time from Queenstown to Milford Sound from five to two hours.

The tunnel would sideline the natural beauty of the Eglinton Valley, where the Department of Conservation had just spent $800,000 upgrading the Mirror Lakes walkway, Mrs. Cardno said.

The trip to Milford Sound should be enjoyed as an environmental journey, and promoted along with scenic journeys through the Catlins and on the Southern Scenic Route.

The tunnel would spoil the quiet Hollyford Valley and add pressure on the avalanche-prone Homer Tunnel section of the highway, she said.

It would also bring economic damage to supply-stop towns such as Kingston, Athol and Mossburn.

The real answer was for people to stay in Te Anau, two hours from Milford Sound,

"All (the tunnel) means is that people can get to Queenstown earlier so they can leave New Zealand earlier. This is not the kind of tourism we want".

The Southland Times

BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY

It was a cold, wet and windy night in Auckland when a distressed, elderly English couple called in to Noelene and Brian Lilley's Manukau Heights Motor Lodge.