Latest news with #LakeWanakaTourism
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Funding boost from govt for 19 southern events
The South has been awarded just under $400,000 to help fund 19 different events, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston announced last week. The government is driving economic growth in the regions by investing $2.6 million in 152 regional events across New Zealand. Mrs Upston said she was thrilled with the variety of exciting events on offer, encouraging more New Zealanders to enjoy and explore New Zealand beyond the main centres. Events to get money in the South include Warbirds Over Wanaka, which received $50,000, the Steampunk NZ Festival which got $10,000 while $39,750 had been given to the Challenge Wānaka Festival of Triathlon 2026. Challenge Wānaka was under pressure to hold its event this year because of a lack of entries but managed to go ahead. It received a boost earlier this month when the event in February would also double as the New Zealand middle distance triathlon championship, making it an official qualifying event for the 2026 World triathlon multisport championships. Mrs Upston said investing in these events had a direct impact, with visitors spending money in local cafes, businesses and accommodation providers, driving economic activity in communities. "By growing regional tourism, our remote and rural communities can benefit from the economic opportunities it brings,'' she said. Events were excellent drawcards to get more visitors into the regions, particularly in quieter parts of the year. "New Zealand is open for business, and we encourage both Kiwis and international visitors alike to explore and enjoy what New Zealand has to offer." Funding comes from the $5m Regional Events Promotion Fund, which has so far invested in 284 regional events. Funding recipients Clutha $10,000 to The Magnificent Adventure Race Enterprise Dunedin $8643 to 2025 Port Chalmers Seafood Festival $40,000 to 2026 New Zealand Masters Games $10,000 to Emersons Dunedin Marathon $30,000 to The Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival $25,000 to Wild Dunedin — NZ Festival of Nature Great South $16,000 to Burt Munro Challenge 2026 $20,000 to NZ Premier Motorsport Summer Series, Next Gen Round 4 $5000 to Rakiura Rhyme Machine Festival 2025 $22,000 to The Shepherdess Muster 2026 $30,000 to Tussock Country – NZ Country Music Festival 2026 Lake Wanaka Tourism $15,000 to Aspiring Conversations 2026 $39,750 to Challenge Wanaka Festival of Triathlon 2026 $15,000 to Merino Muster Ski Marathon $10,000 to NZ Mountain Film and Book festival $50,000 to Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow Tourism Central Otago $8643 to Alexandra Blossom Festival $14,000 to The 70th New Zealand GrandPrix — round 5 Tourism Waitaki $10,000 to Steampunk NZ Festival — APL
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Qantas ups summer flights to Queenstown
A Qantas flight takes off from Queenstown Airport. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Is this good news or bad? More Australians are heading our way — crossing the magic million mark, as tourists from across the Ditch head to Queenstown. Qantas yesterday announced five additional flights from Australia into Queenstown over summer. That should push the number of Australian visitors to the resort for the year over the million mark. Between December 15 and January 26, the Australian airline will operate up to six flights per week from Melbourne to Queenstown — it operates four at present — and up to seven flights from Brisbane, which is three more than it now operates. Additionally, it plans to operate up to six more flights between Sydney and Auckland, up to seven more between Sydney and Christchurch and up to five additional flights between Sydney and Wellington each week during that period. There would also be up to five more flights between Melbourne and Auckland and up to three more between Melbourne and Christchurch. In total, it equates to about 60,000 additional seats compared with the same period last year. Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods said they had been focused on positioning the region as a world-class visitor destination for decades, and Australia was their most important international market. "It's great to see Qantas increasing its capacity directly into Queenstown Airport, adding to Queenstown's appeal as a great place for our Australian neighbours to visit." A Queenstown Airport spokeswoman said the additional flights would provide better connections and more options for local residents travelling for their summer holidays, and noted the resort continued to see "strong demand for transtasman flights, and more passengers per plane". In the 12 months to February this year, 981,033 passengers travelled on flights between Queenstown and Australia. Meanwhile, Queenstown Airport passenger statistics show it is already on track to have a record-breaking year. In 2024, 2,566,584 passengers moved through the airport. In the first four months of this year, 921,539 passengers were recorded, compared with 898,610 for the same period last year.
