Latest news with #HanmerSprings
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Horse riders feel 'overlooked' by snubs for road protections
Equestrian groups and riders have been organising petitions for at least 14 years. Photo: Supplied Horse riders feel "frustrated" after years of inaction on repeated bids for greater safety measures to protect riders on roads and shared pathways. Equestrian groups and riders have gained support from tens of thousands of people for petitions over at least 14 years, to provide greater transport protections like road signage and better road education. In October, the New Zealand Equestrian Advocacy Network (NZEAN) and the Pass Wide and Slow NZ movement took a parliamentary petition to the government's transport and infrastructure select committee, with support from NZ Riding for the Disabled, Equestrian Sports NZ, NZ Pony Club Association and Te Hapori Hōiho. The petition with more than 7500 signatures called for safety provisions in legislation for horse riders in the Land Transport Act, and for their inclusion in road safety and shared pathways initiatives. NZEAN chairperson Shelly Warwick said sharing roads with cars could be dangerous for horse riders. She said excluding horse-friendly areas like Hanmer Springs and Kāpiti Coast, local authorities did not encourage riders to use shared pathways either. Riders were feeling "frustrated" their pleas for greater safety considerations locally and nationally had been "overlooked". "There have been petitions since 2011 asking for road safety considerations, and nothing has changed," she said. "And in that time, horses and their riders have been maimed and killed on our roads." NZEAN chairperson Shelly Warwick says sharing roads with cars could be dangerous for horse riders. Photo: Supplied A spokesperson for the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said there had been three cases of injuries from road crashes involving equestrians in the past five years, excluding on shared pathways, but no road deaths. "One serious injury crash in 2020, one minor injury crash in 2020, one serious injury crash in 2024. In all three crashes the horse rider was injured," the spokesperson said. "There have been no fatal crashes involving equestrians in the last five years." However, the spokesperson said crash data was limited to crashes involving equestrians and non-fatal crashes were often under-reported. Since 2019, ACC confirmed there had been "low numbers" of new claims relating to road deaths of horse riders in 2020, 2021 and 2023, but the number which was fewer than four was suppressed for client privacy. ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker said people riding horses had just as much right to use the road as car drivers. "If you are approaching a horse and rider in your car - share the space and carefully choose an appropriate opportunity to pass wide and slow," Whitaker said. "Riders should ensure their gear fits properly, especially your helmet and saddle, before going for a ride." "If you are approaching a horse and rider in your car - share the space and carefully choose an appropriate opportunity to pass wide and slow," ACC's James Whitaker says. Photo: Supplied ACC spent $3.6 million in costs relating to claims for injuries involving horse riders and vehicles between 2019 and November 2024. In that time, the highest number of new claims involving riders and cars was in Canterbury at 92 claims, 77 in Auckland and 72 in Waikato. NZTA said the New Zealand Road Code included guidance for motorists on sharing the road safely with horse riders, and guidance for horse riders to help keep them safe on the roads. Guidance from the Land Transport Act included riders keeping animals on the road margin to the left as far as practical, single-file riding, and they were prohibited to ride along a footpath adjacent to or forming part of the road. "NZTA reminds motorists to follow the rules and take extra care when sharing the road with horse riders," the guidance said. Old NZTA documents referred to "vulnerable road users"' as people at heightened risk including pedestrians, people on wheels like mobility scooters or wheechairs, or people on animals. However, the term was excluded from the Land Transport Act. Warwick said in efforts to improve driver awareness, riders wanted to be recognised as vulnerable road users, as pedestrians and cyclists were often referred to, though it was not a legal term. "Vulnerable road users, they use that terminology and yet they don't actually define who the vulnerable road user is, which is what we're asking them to do." An NZTA spokesperson said there was no legal status for cyclists, pedestrians or horse riders as 'vulnerable road users'. "'Vulnerable road user' is not a term currently used or defined in New Zealand transport legislation and rules for any road users. "A legislative change to include such a definition in transport law would need to be initiated by the Ministry of Transport." Warwick said riders felt they had "got nowhere" with numerous letters to transport ministers, on a local level with councils and appeals to government. "One of the questions that one of the MPs did ask, which was very poignant actually, was he asked directly to NZTA and to the Ministry of Transport, 'In the last 20 years, what proactive measures have you made to ensure the safety of horse riders on the roads?' And neither of them could actually answer that question." Drivers faced a $55 fine for failing to exercise due care to driven animals like horses. The next steps for progressing the parliamentary petition was to be reported and referred to the Minister of Transport.
Hospitality Net
06-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Edit Hotels & Resorts Launches Across New Zealand
A bold new hotel brand - Edit Hotels & Resorts – officially launches today with four properties across New Zealand. Designed for value-conscious travellers, Edit celebrates the simple pleasures of travel, offering a fresh, fuss-free way to stay well without compromise. Created by the team behind luxury hospitality group Fable Hotels & Resorts, the Edit Hotels & Resorts collection features a portfolio of recently refurbished properties, including Edit Auckland Central (formerly President Hotel), Edit Auckland Greenlane (formerly Greenlane Suites), Edit Picton (formerly Picton Yacht Club Hotel), and Edit Hanmer Springs (formerly Hanmer Springs Hotel). Edit is for the savvy traveller from families looking for value, business travellers needing seamless connectivity, or travel hackers who know how to make the most of every trip. We designed Edit Hotels & Resorts to be affordable without ever feeling cheap. It's smart, comfortable, and uncluttered - ideal for guests who would rather spend more on experiencing the destination, than the room they sleep in. Lisa Breckon, Director of Sales and Marketing Each Edit property offers a mid-scale accommodation experience that blends comfort and convenience without the unnecessary extras. Think reliable Wi-Fi, restful beds, and seamless service, all in well-located properties that keep things simple yet stylish at an affordable price. Edit Hanmer Springs and Edit Picton also feature dedicated conference and event spaces – catering for up to 250 guests in Hanmer and 100 in Picton – offering smart, flexible venues ideal for meetings, retreats, and special occasions in two of New Zealand's most scenic locations. Edit is embracing a digital-first approach to deliver a more seamless and connected guest experience. Digital compendiums, interactive activity booklets, and digital business cards are already available across all properties, with Chromecast streaming and paperless check-in currently in development to further enhance the journey. Edit Hotels & Resorts are committed to making a meaningful difference beyond the in-house guest experience, proudly working alongside local schools to support tamariki and whānau in need. These initiatives include: In Auckland, Edit partners with Bailey Road School in Mt Wellington, supplying students with school bags, stationery, and drink bottles to ease the financial pressure on families, in addition to sponsoring a leadership programme for Year 7 and 8 students. A summer work experience initiative is also in the planning to give students the chance to build confidence and capability outside the classroom. In Picton, Edit provides termly financial contributions to support Picton School students experiencing challenges such as low attendance and financial hardship. Funding covers access to sports, extracurricular activities, household essentials, and school stationery to remove barriers to learning and participation. In Hanmer Springs, Edit sponsors weekly school lunches at Hanmer Springs School ensuring students in need receive at least one nourishing meal a week to help them stay focused and ready to learn. Being part of a community means more than just operating in it; it's about lending a hand and building meaningful, long-term relationships, continues Lisa. We're proud that each Edit property gives back to local school children and families who need a little extra support in a way that's personal, tangible, and truly makes a difference. Edit Hotels & Resorts is all about simple pleasures and creating space for what truly matters: rest, connection, and the joy of travel without excess. With a design ethos rooted in minimalism and warmth, Edit welcomes business and leisure travellers seeking to stay smart, sleep well, and spend less, without sacrificing style. For more, visit Wanderlust. That thirst to escape the mundane, to find somewhere and something truly unique. A tale to tell that is ours alone. Fable is borne of this yearning – yours, and ours. We wanted to create something unforgettable; something we would treasure, and each of our guests would treasure too. New Zealand owned, our team are locals and the Kiwi spirit of warmth and ingenuity is woven into our DNA. When CPG created Fable, we dreamt of elevating boutique hotels to another place, with bespoke experiences that offer more than simply a luxurious place to lay one's head (though, that is part of what we do, too). But rather, a curated experience bringing the best of contemporary world-class hospitality, combined with artful details to enjoy, and twists of local wisdom and flavour. Each Fable property has a unique character utterly its own. Inherently local, consistently different, our promise is that any Fable location a guest visits will invoke the sort of unique experience that imprints deeply, calls to be relived, and leaves one longing to return to a place and moment again and again. With an eye for the remarkable locations, talented people and unique touches that set an experience apart, CPG has established a collection of 13 properties in 6 locations across New Zealand (and growing). Bringing the Fable experience to life in many of these properties is the next step on our journey. Fable's first locations, newly refurbished and each full of rare character, will open their doors from mid-2020. Starting with an exclusive 11-room boutique hotel in Ponsonby Auckland, and the historic Wains Hotel in Dunedin, we will soon after turn our sights towards transforming several iconic Auckland destinations for a new era, soon to be announced. Stay tuned for our next chapters... Ginni Post Fable Hotels & Resorts
