From the Editor's Mailbox August 2009
News of business initiatives in the North Island - 14/0809
5 August 2009
New Bay of Islands overnight small cruise ship in the water and all set to sail towards New Zealand
Karly McKinney
Fullers Great Sights Bay of Islands' latest vessel, Ipipiri, is now afloat in waters near Hobart. The final stages of construction will be completed by the middle of August. New Zealand's newest overnight cruise ship will then set sail to her new home in the pristine waters of Opua in the Bay of Islands.
The 46 metre Ipipiri is due to arrive by the end of August. So far, the vessel has taken more than 50,000 man hours to complete and contains more than 75 tonnes of aluminium in its structure alone.
Ipipiri will feature a spacious sundeck, a 70 seat indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar area capable of hosting up to 110 people for cocktail functions or presentations. The lower decks will house 30 deluxe cabins, each with a king sized bed, a private ensuite and unobstructed panoramic sea views.
Full of history and natural beauty, the Bay of Islands is the perfect destination to enjoy an indulgent weekend escape, and with the arrival of Ipipiri, passengers can spend a special night on its sheltered waters, starting from October 2009.
June 04, 2009
Auckland's Sky Tower Joins List of Global Landmarks Lit by Philips LED Technology
Sarah Campbell
With views from up to 80km away the Sky Tower provides a dazzling example of energy efficiency across Auckland.
Auckland's SKYCITY complex is now not only the home of entertainment in Auckland – its Sky Tower has joined an illustrious list of global landmarks and structures that are using Philips' advanced and energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) technology to beautify their city skylines and landscapes.
At 328 metres tall the Sky Tower, built in 1997, is the tallest man-made structure in New Zealand and has become as synonymous with the harbour city as the spectacular natural surroundings.
The Sky Tower has this week undergone its biggest make-over to date with an architectural lighting renovation designed to decrease the building's energy emissions while simultaneously providing a more vibrant and emotive display at night.
Previously lit by metal halide flood lights that were more difficult to modify, repair or simply change colours due to the building's height, SKYCITY sought out the expertise of Auckland's Modus Lighting to specify a simple to use yet advanced solution to ensure the architectural lighting was the world's best.
It provides a simple way of changing the look and feel of the tower as each is capable of producing millions of different colour sequences and designs without the need for glass filters, coloured gels, or electro-mechanical colour scrollers. The previous metal halide system was less cost effective, as it required the manual installation of filters to produce coloured light. Now the entire tower can change colours with a simple push of a button.
Not only will the Sky Tower be more dynamic and colourful in appearance, it will also be more energy efficient as the innovative LED technology will save over 66% of the energy used on the old metal halide technology. In addition to their aesthetic versatility, LED systems are highly durable and therefore well suited for difficult-to-access and vibration-prone environments, such as the Sky Tower.
Waitomo Glowworm Cave Visitor Centre development plans unveiled
Holly McClune
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Visitor Centre development has begun with the opening date scheduled for early 2010. thl are investing significantly into this iconic tourism centre which will be the first of its kind on this side of the globe, and promises to deliver an even more exceptional experience to our customers.
The visitor centre has been designed to create a minimal intervention environmental building that provides a lightweight canopy to shelter and provide enjoyable facilities for our visitors in their journey to and from the caves. It follows the contours of the land, following the meandering Waitomo stream that lies below.
The new building will offer a variety of facilities and experiences to Waitomo visitors, with the aim of further enhancing their overall experience and visit to the unique region. A restaurant spanning 2 levels will seat up to 250 customers, and include exclusive dining area for groups if required. There will also be a 50 seat café for those who want something a bit quicker before or after their visit. Various menu choices will be available; including an all day blackboard menu and a traditional ‘kiwi' BBQ buffet lunch for tour groups and FIT's alike.
The retail space that is currently based opposite the main cave entrance will also be brought into the new complex and will be expanded to provide visitors with a larger variety of gifts and souvenirs.
There are also some exciting new entertainment and education facilities planned, which include an exhibition centre and a theatre for customers to view and interact with before their cave tour begins.
While the complex is undergoing development and construction, the stunning Waitomo Glowworm Cave experience – including the boat ride under a starry sky of glowworms and a tour through a limestone cave that has been around for millions of years – will not be affected and will continue to delight and surprise hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Rotorua Airport takes off for Trans Tasman flights
Jacky James
More than 40 years after it first opened, Rotorua Airport is about to become an international airport, with the news that Air New Zealand will commence twice-weekly Trans Tasman flights to Sydney from December 12.
Air New Zealand will fly A320 aircrafts from Sydney to Rotorua and return twice a week initially. The flights will operate on a Saturday-Monday service initially, moving to a Saturday-Tuesday service from February 2010.
Rotorua Airport Chairman Neil Oppatt says the Airport is delighted to be working with New Zealand's national carrier on the new Trans Tasman service.
Mr Oppatt says the announcement is a significant development for the local economy, community and relevant sectors, such as tourism, in Rotorua and the rest of the Central North Island.
"More money in the sector means more money in the wider community. While our tourism operators are obviously working in the tourism sector, they are living in our community and they're spending money on professional services such as legal or accountancy services, groceries and right through to health services and schools. We all benefit.
"Our estimates indicate that the Trans Tasman flights will ultimately translate to an increased household income of between $1.8 and $12.3 million across the board, and potentially the creation of between 70 and 130 new jobs.
"In addition, it's not just the inbound tourism that is going to add value to our region, the outbound aspect is also important, with our residents now able to fly directly to Australia, without having to travel to Auckland first."
In the past two years, the Airport has seen a number of upgrades, including the development of a new international arrival and departure lounge, a resurfaced and lengthened runway (which is nearing completion), expanded and resealed carparks, border control offices and gateways and a cafe. These developments were made both to achieve Trans Tasman capability, but also to meet changing requirements for the Airport's domestic operation.
Bookings for the first Trans Tasman flights are already open.
