The Dashboard brings together a range of tourism datasets produced by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment and Statistics NZ into one easy-to-use tool.

Being able to access tourism data is vital for helping businesses and policy makers understand the tourism industry and identify new growth opportunities and trends. It is something the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand has been advocating for on behalf of the industry.

Information is presented using dynamic graphs and data tables, which makes it easy to look at trends in tourism through selecting and modifying interactive charts and tables.

MBIE says the Dashboard will be updated regularly with the most recent tourism information available.

MBIE is keen to get your feedback on the New Zealand Tourism Dashboard email TR_SharedMailbox@mbie.govt.nz – let them know what works, what doesn’t and what would make it easier for you to access the right insight.

The decision was announced on 4 February 2016 as part of the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan, which identifies 48 actions that will support and enable the growth of the Northland economy.

The Hundertwasser Centre will add another quality visitor attraction to the Northland tourism industry, creating jobs and economic benefits.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says around 70 people will work on the Centre’s construction and 30 people will be needed to operate it. The Centre is estimated to bring an additional $3.7 million into the Northland economy each year.

The original design for the centre was drawn in 1993 by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, who resided in Northland. It will be dedicated to contemporary Maori art, with a section displaying Hundertwasser’s own work.

The centre is identified in the Northland Economic Action Plan as a key potential tourism project. The government’s contribution is contingent on the Whangarei Museum Trust obtaining the $8.2 million of additional funding required to build the centre.

Operations Manager Sally McDonald says they’ve been “totally blown away” by the results, with 10,000 visitors experiencing the museum in its first two months.

“I think visitor satisfaction is the thing we are most proud of as this has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Not just for truck enthusiasts, Transport World was designed to have something for everyone and includes family play zones, wearable art fashion exhibits, theatre and themed rest rooms.

Sally says the feedback from truck enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike has been fantastic.

Visitors are coming from a wide range of markets, including the USA, UK, Belgium, China and Germany plus Kiwis.

Transport World is open daily from 10am – 5pm. Visitors can purchase daily passes or take a one hour guided tour or premium guided tour which includes lunch in The Grille Café.

www.transportworld.co.nz

The state of the art, architecturally designed museum and education centre is the cornerstone of the $14 million redevelopment programme at Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

The two-storied museum houses the inaugural and permanent exhibition Ko Waitangi Tenei: This is Waitangi. The exhibitionexplores the stories of Waitangi – the people, the place and the Treaty. The exhibition also includes taonga from museums and private collections across the country, as well as content from around the world including Canada, USA, UK and Australia.

The museum will regularly host temporary exhibitions and opens with a collection of rarely seen photographs documenting protest action at Waitangi over the decades.

Waitangi National Trust, Chief Executive Greg McManus expects the new museum will be a big drawcard for visitors.

“It’s our hope that every Kiwi will visit Waitangi and our new museum will be another reason to come to this very special part of New Zealand – the birthplace of our nation.”

In addition to the new museum, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds will also offer a new all-inclusive Day Pass and during summer visitors can enjoy a twilight Hāngi & Concert, perfect for those wishing to have a full Waitangi experience.

The Day Pass includes a Guided Tour and Cultural Performance – adults $40, New Zealand residents $20 and children (under 18 years) are free. Hāngi & Concert – adults $105, children (5-15 years) $50.

www.waitangi.org.nz

And for the 13th consecutive month, Rotorua has seen double digit growth in visits by North Americans (US and Canadian visitors), the Rotorua Attractions and Activities Monitor statistics for November 2015 reveals.

The declining value of the New Zealand dollar combined with increased airline competition into New Zealand and the growing attractiveness of the destination is contributing to international visitors doing and spending more during their visit to Rotorua, Destination Rotorua trade marketing manager Patrick Dault says.

Similarly, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Regional Tourism Indicators show double digit growth in the value of electronic purchases at Rotorua businesses by Australian, American and British visitors in almost every month over the past two years.

“It’s fantastic to see strong demand from the US market even ahead of the new trans-Pacific flights announced last year. Given the loyalty Americans have to their own airlines, we are expecting to see even stronger growth once the direct mainland USA to Auckland services by American Airlines and United commence mid-2016,” he says.

Kiwi dollars are more affordable today than they were a year ago and while commercial accommodation nights continue to grow, couch surfing and staying with friends and family also continues to be a popular choice for some international visitor markets.

Australians spent 214,000 nights in the homes of their Rotorua friends and family during the year ending November 2015, while British and North American visitors spent 63,000 and 45,000 nights respectively.

Experiencing the local cuisine and collecting mementos of travel is typically a popular activity with international visitors. The MBIE Regional Tourism Indicators for year ending November 2015 reveals double digit growth over the previous year in the value of electronic purchases by international visitors at Rotorua’s dining premises (up 27%), food retailers (up 25%) and other retailers (up 20%).

Rotorua Lakes Council Inner City Revitalisation portfolio lead Cr Karen Hunt says Rotorua’s vibrancy helps visitors spend their money.

“What with our dining precincts, the Rotorua Night Market and other inner city facilities, visitors come away with a highly satisfying experience which enables them to spread their spending into the wider business community.

“These facilities provide a public place for visitors to enhance their stay by meeting locals, with some of those meetings resulting in life-long friendships that lead to further spending through repeat visitation in future years.”

Can we have too much of a good thing?

Singapore Airlines announced the new service on 20 January. It will operate between Wellington and Singapore, via Canberra, four times a week.

“This new service opens up two new international connections and creates the first ever, non-stop connection between New Zealand and Canberra and the first direct service (operated with a single flight-number) between Wellington and Singapore,” says Transport Minister Simon Bridges.

“The new service will have significant benefits for the Wellington economy and the tourism sector with it expected to generate $95 million in visitor expenditure and add around $44 million to the national economy.”

The new flights will be operated using 266-seat retrofitted Boeing 777-200 aircraft, fitted with 38 Business Class seats and 228 Economy Class seats.

Flights will begin operating in September.

The Great NZ Golf Guide is a new AA Traveller/Tourism New Zealand partner publication that highlights the very best New Zealand has to offer golfers.

Over the last year more than 36,000 international tourists played golf while visiting New Zealand, spending approximately $169 million – almost $5000 each.

After recognising the potential of developing the golf market further, AA Traveller and Tourism New Zealand teamed up to create the Great NZ Golf Guide. This builds on the work that Tourism New Zealand is doing to showcase New Zealand as a world-class golfing destination.

“We’re steadily seeing travel numbers and tourist investment into golf in New Zealand increase, which is why we wanted to make the information about our premium golf destinations easy to access by compiling it into an engaging, easy to read publication,” says AA Tourism Publishing General Manager Moira Penman.

Twelve marquee courses and 28 New Zealand Experience courses are covered in the guide that goes beyond golf by giving visitors information on other regional activities, seasons and weather, driving distances and provides information on New Zealand road rules.

“New Zealand offers incredible variety, from oceanfront subtropical courses in the north to alpine settings in the south, with the short direct flights making this a very attractive destination for Australian golfers,” says Tony Rogers, Marketing Manager Special Interest, Tourism New Zealand.

“Tourism New Zealand is particularly focused on golfers in Australia who are looking for a unique and rewarding golfing holiday experience that includes other nearby activities.”

Golfing visitors tend to stay longer in New Zealand on average, spending 26 days here compared with other holiday visitors who stay for an average 16 days, according to Tourism New Zealand research. Mr Rogers says they are also more likely to do other activities like visiting wineries and vineyards while here.

“This golfing guide, with its rich information about our best golf courses and surrounding activities, is a great way to showcase our diversity and how accessible our courses are.”

The Great NZ Golf Guide is set to launch in early June 2016, adding to AA Traveller’s other niche titles including the highly successful New Zealand Cycle Trails Guide.

As we plan for the future, it’s also important to reflect on our success. Here are just 15 of TIA’s key achievements on behalf of members this year.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon says the operational launch of the new service is a great way to end 2015.

“This week we mark 50 years of flying to the US – it’s a huge milestone and fantastic that as we celebrate this we also celebrate the operational launch of our latest US service which directly connects New Zealand to the heart of America’s south.

“We are committed to continuing to expand our Pacific Rim network.”