Co-operating for economic growth in Whangarei District

This week I spoke to my submission to the Annual Plan process for the Whangarei District Council.  Here are some of the key points I raised as a member of the Whangarei tourism Trust, the Northland Tourism Development Group, Bream Bay Tourism Group, and owner operator of a commercial accommodation Waihoihoi Lodge in Waipu.
I am [...]

Growth continues for Northland tourism in 2007; short-term challenges foreseen in 2008

Northland tourism’s sustained period of growth extended into 2007 but the industry is adjusting for the prospect of tougher times ahead.
Newly-released figures show that in the year to December 2007, Northland achieved a 3.02 percent increase in visitor nights, a measure of the length of stay in the region. Over the past five years, Northland’s [...]

New Whangarei Website

www.whangareinz.com  has been launched as a new promotional website for the district.  Working in closely with the NorthlandNZ site, it has already won awards.  The website aims to attract people to visit and live in Whangarei, while also featuring facts and things to do for people currently living in the district who might be hosting [...]

Road accidents and Tourism in the North – time to wake up…

On Waitangi Day I borrowed a nice red sports car, put the hood down, picked up a friend from Ocean Beach Whangarei Heads and headed off to the Hokianga for a few magical days holiday.
Part of the trip was enjoying stops along the way, so we were on the look out for [...]

$9.5 million Hundertwasser Centre proposed for Whangarei Town Basin

“Whangarei mayor Stan Semenoff has announced plans to establish an international-standard Hundertwasser arts centre at Whangarei’s Town Basin.
Deputy mayor Kahu Sutherland and council CEO Mark Simpson have this week returned from negotiations in Vienna where they gained the full support of the Hundertwasser Foundation for the proposal…”
Follow this link to read the full story
WOW – [...]

Getting more resources to market Northland

Its been raining and humid and we have not seen Whangarei Heads or the sun for what seems like a week. So it was good to get out today – borrow my friends MX5, put the hood down and head for Waitangi for the day. The pohutukawas along the way were spectacular, [...]

Northland Economy is booming

I am one who does believe that local government can play a role in helping to create economic growth in a region. Whangarei and Northland have been winners in this regard. The Advocate reports that “Figures out yesterday show Northland has the highest job and earnings growth for the year and for five [...]

Northland tourism growth surpasses national average

A press release from Destination Northland
Northland’s tourism industry has recorded a year of exceptional growth, increasing visitor numbers at a faster rate than the national average, expanding its market share and creating new jobs.
Destination Northland manager Robyn Bolton says visitor numbers nationally have been growing steadily for about a year – a welcome trend following [...]

Northland Tourism is a Winner

As part of the Northland Tourism Development Group, we work with Destination Northland to promote and develop tourism in Northland. In some sectors there is concern about the money that Destination Northland/Enterprise Northland receives from district and regional councils. Here are some figures that I think indicate we are getting amazing value for [...]