PURE NEWS

New Zealand Wins Online 'Academy Award'

New Zealand has won the online world's equivalent of an Oscar - a 'Webby'. The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences has recognised www.newzealand.com as the top tourism website in the world.

Tourism New Zealand's consumer website beat out international contenders like the Italian Tourism Commission, Puerto Rico Tourism and Yellowstone Park. www.newzealand.com is designed to market New Zealand as an attractive holiday destination, and help international visitors plan their trip.
 
The Webby's recognise online achievement and innovation and are managed by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Websites are nominated and voted on by their membership, which includes such internationally recognised names as musician David Bowie, business woman Anita Roddick and The Simpsons' creator Matt Groening.
 
Australians spend 1.4 billion in New Zealand in 2004
Australian visitors spent $NZ1,437,200 in New Zealand in 2004 up 22% to $NZ1,437,400 an additional $NZ262 million compared to the previous year. Growth in visitor numbers was up 20.3% and average spend per visit up 2%.

Kauri Cliffs -  Bay of Islands 'Exclusive'
Kauri Cliffs has been awarded Qualmark' 'Exclusive' accreditation, now one of six New Zealand properties to have achieved this quality rating. Qualmark' is New Zealand tourism's official mark of quality.
www.qualmark.co.nz
 
The Lodge at Paratiho Farm
The Lodge at Paratiho Farms was recently awarded the title of New Zealand's Leading Spa Resort at the 11th Annual World Travel Awards, voted by travel agents worldwide
Web: www.paratiho.co.nz 

Kawaha Point Lodge - Rotorua
Kawaha Point Lodge has been awarded the 2005 New Zealand Beef and Lamb Hallmark of Excellence. Kawaha Point Lodge owner-hosts, Tony and Margaret Seavill, were once lamb breeders and farmers in the North Island and very particular as to what cuts of lamb and beef are served to their guests.
Web: www.kawahalodge.co.nz
 
Blanket Bay and Eichardt's Hotel
Two New Zealand properties featured in Andrew Harper's Hideaways of the Year, Annual Grand Awards.
Glenorchy's Blanket Bay and Queenstown's Eichardt's Hotel.
Web: www.eichardtshotel.co.nz  Web: www.blanketbay.com

Millbrook Resort
Queenstown's Millbrook Resort been named among the top 500 hotels in the world in the Travel & Leisure 500, an annual list published in the January 2005 issue of the New York-based Travel & Leisure magazine.
Web: www.millbrook.co.nz
 

World acclaim for cape course
Hawkes Bay's new Cape Kidnappers golf course has been declared the best built anywhere in the world last year by international magazine Travel & Leisure Golf. Writer Brian McCallen writes, 'Cape Kidnappers is not only the golf course of the year, it is now the new eighth wonder of the world. Perched on fingers of land nearly 500 feet above Hawkes Bay, this vertigo-inducing course, creased by ravines and patrolled by gannets, belongs more to heaven than to earth.' 

'Shot values are matched by aesthetics which are off the chart, as is the scale of the five thousand acre sheep farm which golf course architect Tom Doak was handed for his first overseas project.'

The course is owned by American developer Julian Robertson, whose other New Zealand course, Kauri Cliffs on the Northland coast, designed by David Harman, has been voted the 49^th best course in the world.  Only six other courses built since 1936 have made it to the top fifty.
 
Peppers is 'hotter' but Great Mercury island is 'hottest'
ROTORUA'S Peppers on the Point has been named on Conde Naste Traveller magazine's Hot List for 2005.  Hot List 2005 features what the magazine considers to be the hot, hotter and hottest properties around the world.  Only Peppers on the Point 'hotter' and Great Mercury Island 'hottest' feature from New Zealand. Australia has seven 'hot' properties. The US has 12.
 
Great Mercury Island ' New Zealand's own Necker Island
Just 25 minutes by helicopter from Auckland, the privately owned Great  Mercury Island is now available to rent for exclusive use.  The island features panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, white sandy beaches,  rugged coastlines and native bush. Ralph Lauren is rumoured to have just stayed there with close friends and family.
 
The accommodation designed around a Sardinian theme, features two residences, which are ideal for small groups and families looking for the ultimate New Zealand experience in total privacy. The two villas  are nestled in the hillside overlooking the ocean and volcanic hills. They feature open fireplaces, indoor and outdoor dining, a swimming  pool, gym and massage room.
 
The first villa sleeps six people in three double bedrooms and the adjacent villa has four further rooms providing a variety of
accommodation options, making it ideal for children and nannies. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms and the whole island can sleep up to 25 people. Plenty of activities are available, including native bush walks,  horse-riding and water sports. The island also offers a range of water sports, from catamarans, kayaks to jet skis, for guests to enjoy. There  are superb opportunities for sea fishing with scallops, oysters, snapper and kingfish being tasty local catches.
 
As well as beach activities, like gourmet picnics, petanque and volleyball, Great Mercury Island offers superb diving. Snorkellers and divers alike will have the chance to see sea horse, paua (abalone) and crayfish, as well as octopus, dolphins and penguins. Alternatively, jump in a chopper to play a round of golf at the award-winning Kauri Cliffs and Matarangi golf courses, which are only half an hour away.
 
Prices for exclusive use of the island are approximately NZ$ 20,000 per week, but exact details are available on request.
Web: www.seasonz.co.nz/homes/mercury.html
 
Fancy spending a night in a 'Hobbit hole'
Inspired by New Zealand's fame as the location for the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, an innovative motelier in Waitomo has created two 'Hobbit Hole' motel units buried into a hillside in his property.
 
Already included in the listings of the Unique Motels of the World for his Aeroplane motel (a former Bristol Freighter) and a Train Carriage motel, the Hobbit rooms are the latest unique rooms to stay in at Woodlyn Park in Waitomo, in New Zealand's North Island.
 
Complete with round lead-light windows and a round entrance door, the two units have been dug out of a hillside on the property and have sheep grazing on their grass roofs, says Woodlyn Park's creator, entertainer and media personality, Billy Black.
 
"This complex is now drawing people from all corners of the world to view or participate in a truly unique New Zealand experience", says Billy who regularly performs on stage at Woodlyn Park with his dancing pig, Don Rash.
 
The Hobbit units, like the other motels available at Woodlyn Park are all self-contained with kitchens, their own shower toilet facilities, and can accommodate between 2-10 people. Each has specially designed furniture and d飯r to fit with the rustic Hobbit theme.
 
After visitors leave their hobbit hole, they can delve down another sort of unique hole experience as Waitomo's world famous glow worm caves are just a few minutes drive from Woodlyn Park.
www.woodlynpark.co.nz  to see images of the Hobbit Hole motel units.
 
 
Matariki
Matariki is a small cluster of tiny stars, also known as Pleiades.  As the stars rise on the north east horizon this signals the beginning of the New Year for Maori. New Year celebrations were traditionally held on the sighting of the next new moon. In traditional Maori society, communities set up watch for Matariki. 
 
Matariki is seen as a time to prepare, learn, share ideas and celebrate the future.  It is also a time to prepare food. It's when Maori make plans for the land and for the new spring garden and is seen as a good time for planting new trees and bushes.
For more information: http://www.matariki.net.nz/
 
New Zealand opens new conservation park on the South Island
 
Ahuriri Conservation Park, a 49,000 hectare park in New Zealand's South Island officially opened in March 2005, giving access to mountain country in the upper Ahuriri Valley, near Omarama in North Otago.
 
The conservation park, which will be governed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), contains glaciers, wetlands, tussock lands and beech forests. There are great opportunities for mountain-biking, fishing, climbing, horse-riding and walking.
 
The Ahuriri River system and associated wetlands are an important habitat for threatened species, such as the black stilt and black-fronted tern and other birds, like the banded dotterel.
 
New Zealand currently has several conservation parks and 14 national parks, all of which are managed by DOC. Conservation parks allows for the protection of the natural and/or recreation values present in an area, and have a focus on public recreation and enjoyment in a natural setting.
www.doc.govt.nz
 
 
Heritage status sought for Auckland's volcanic cones
Auckland's unique volcanic cones that surround its harbour are tipped to get World Heritage status.
 
The Auckland City Council has joined the chorus for calling for a nomination of the volcanic cones to Unesco, the United Nations organisation that bestows heritage status. If successful, the ancient volcanic field spread around Auckland would join nearly 800 international treasures such as New Zealand's south-western national parks, including Aoraki/Mt Cook, and Egypt's pyramids in the World Heritage listings.
 
The fifty-odd volcanic cones are dotted around the Hauraki Gulf and are clearly visible from Auckland's city centre. The youngest volcano, Rangitoto Island, just 10km off Auckland, and its neighbouring volcano on Motutapu Island, are one of the most well known landmarks of the region. Both islands are accessible as a day trip from the city and there are also basic provisions at the beachside DOC campsite at Motutapu's Home Bay.
 
www.doc.govt.nz
 
 
New Zealand Ski Season update

 
Cardrona Alpine Resort
Planned opening day 24 June 2005

• Cardrona Alpine Resort is adding a Noodle bar with expansive decks that overlook the learners' slopes.
• At Cardrona you can stay overnight. There are ten apartment units situated in the main complex, only a minute's walk to the lifts.