The Herald has made a statement that the government does have enough evidence to support such a decision. That was concluded after a report came out that [...]]]> The government in New Zealand is currently considering compulsory drug testing for individuals who participate in adventure tourism activities due to a cannabis related incident that resulted in tragedy.

The Herald has made a statement that the government does have enough evidence to support such a decision. That was concluded after a report came out that confirmed that the pilot of an air balloon that crashed had THC within his system.

The accident took eleven peoples lives on the 7th of January this year, and while drug abuse cannot be directly linked to the cause, there has been a correlation with this and another accident in which a plane crashed in 2010 at Fox Glacier where the skydivers on board were found to have the same chemical in there system which comes from cannabis use.

Currently these types of adventurers do not have to submit themselves to drug testing in order to participate in these events, but due to the NZ Herald reports, “the Transport Ministry is now seriously considering implementing these policies to promote safety in these very important transport situations.” This is credible since the Lancet earlier this year came out with a report claiming the highest amphetamine and cannabis in the world taking place in NZ and Australia.

The PM John Key says that mandating the testing is a likely next step. He does have his Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson looking into it however, and it would be her preference that the testing be made voluntary rather than mandating it through legislation.

The [...]]]> On the border between Marlborough and Canterbury is the peaceful town of Kaikoura. Kaikoura has recently become a tourist hotspot thanks to the abundance of marine life in the coastal waters. The rugged coastline that surrounds Kaikoura town is set against a snow-capped mountain backdrop, a view that captures the imagination of all who visit.

The waters surrounding Kaikoura is home to an impressive array of marine life, including Sperm Whales, Humpback Whales and the Southern Right. The relatively unique sea floor geology found here is what makes the area an ideal home for a vast range of marine species.

Kaikoura shot to fame in the eco-tourism industry, back in 1994, when the local Whale Watch won an award from British Airways. Kaikoura competed against 120 worldwide entries to win the award, which is a commemoration of the commitment and effort being put in by the Kaikoura Whale Watch to preserve marine life and create a sustainable tourism venture.

There are several purpose-built whale watching vessels that travers the domain of local whale groups. It’s hard to adequately describe the awe that visitors experience when they see whales cruising majestically alongside them, exhaling and preparing to dive. It’s an honour that’s regarded by many as a true privilege that many will never experience.

Closer to the shore, the safe and shallow waters provide excellent breeding grounds for a variety of dolphin species. The most common species found here is the Dusky, often seen between October and April. ‘Super-pods’ of a 1000 dolphins or more can be seen off the Kaikoura Peninsula’s southern tip. Hectors Dolphins, the smallest dolphin species in the world, along with the Killer Whale are also often spotted here.

The most common residents, the Dusky’s, will often be seen travelling in groups of 75-300 dolphins. Some lucky visitors also get to experience the joy of swimming with these particular groups of dolphins, there are many companies that are fully licensed to operate ‘Swimming with Dolphin’ trips. Donning a wetsuit, snorkel, fins and goggles enables you to immerse yourself in the dolphin’s world in the way that is least threatening.

Dusky’s are the most acrobatic species of dolphin, and if you come across them while they’re in playful moods, they are quite happy to somersault, side slap and jump around. Aside from being entertaining, these gestures are believed to form a very effective way of communicating.

There is also a seal colony near Kaikoura and this attraction is free. Often, you’ll find seals lounging within metres of roads and you’ll only have to go a short distance to see them. The native fur seals are usually extremely tolerant of people as long as you keep a safe distance and don’t cut them off from the sea. It’s also possible to go swimming with the fur seals on guided tours that can be booked in Kaikoura’s visitor centre.

A visit to Kaikoura is an experience of a lifetime. Kaikura has a variety of things on offer that tourists will enjoy including guided tours, nature walks, an abundance of marine life and bird life.

Some of the strangest plants, rarest birds and oldest rocks in New Zealand are found here.

The most accessible, and probably the most famous, treasure in Kahurangi park is [...]]]> The name Kahurangi, a Maori term that translates to ‘treasured possession’, is a clue that attracts people to the large, wild park that has been given the name.

Some of the strangest plants, rarest birds and oldest rocks in New Zealand are found here.

The most accessible, and probably the most famous, treasure in Kahurangi park is the the Heaphy Track, a full 3-5 day walking route. The track travels through nearly 80km of subtropical rainforest, river valleys, coasts and even the tussock high country. Over 4000 walkers take to the route each year, a route that, for several hundreds of years, has been used by the local tribes as they travelled to the western coast.

Another popular 3-5 day walking route is the Wangapeka Track. There are also many shorter walks available throughout the park that depart from access roads which lead away from Takaka, Motueka, Murchison and Karamea.

Kahurangi National Park’s complex range of landforms attracts a variety of people including cavers, fossil hunters and geologists. Fluted rock, sinkholes, shafts and arches amongst appearing/disappearing streams give this area of New Zealand a landscape full of exceptional character. The ‘marble mountains’ Mount Arthur and Mount Owen have had extensive areas dissolved by water to create complex and extensive cave systems.

Inside Mount Owen, some of the greatest caves are found. Mount Owen still has a vast number of unexplored passages. The finest caving experiences often involve helicopter flights to entry points and a variety of equipment and caving supplies to get the most of the cave exploration.

Cavers and geologists are not the only people that will enjoy the beautiful landscape of the National Park. For those who appreciate wildlife, there are nearly 20 species of native birds that live in the park. As visitors walk through Kahurangi they will get serenaded by tui, South Island Robins and bellbirds amongst many others. Several native land snail species are also commonly sighted.

Another feature of the park that will excite adventurers are the remote rivers. Many of Kahurangi’s rivers are only suitable for kayakers with a lot of experience, however, commercial raft tours are also available. A spot that’s good for fishing is the Karamea River, it’s well known for being a place that’s great for trout.

There are a number of accommodation huts along the walking tracks in Kahurangi park. Alternatively, there are designated camping sites or the four gateway towns Murchison, Motueka, Takaka and Karamea which offer budget accommodation.

The company has eight different tanks that drivers can choose from and they are easily capable of destroying any sized car.

The owner of [...]]]> New Zealand is a country that has a reputation for adventure and adrenaline sports and one company is capitalising on this by offering people the opportunity to crush a car with a tank.

The company has eight different tanks that drivers can choose from and they are easily capable of destroying any sized car.

The owner of the company is Jonathan Lahy-Neary and he has commented, “I think this is a great opportunity for people who are frustrated with driving and it can be a great way to release stress.”

The largest tank which the operation has is a Centurion battle tank which weighs over 50 tonnes. This tank was used by Australian forces during the Vietnam war. There are also Soviet tanks available and the owner of the company said that it was very easy to purchase the tanks from an arms dealer based in Hungary.

He commented, “When we were purchasing the tanks they were fully operational and the dealer had over 100 for us to choose from. However, before we imported it into Australia we had to pay for the gun to be decommissioned. It was really amazing to us how it was possible to just buy a fully operational tank.”

It is estimated that the adrenaline and adventure market in New Zealand is worth NZ$3 billion and this is just one of the latest additions to the countries adrenaline market. A tourism expert in the country has commented, “New Zealand has established itself as the premier destination for people who are after a white knuckle adventure.

There are a huge number of activities that people can do in the country and it is always on the cutting edge of developing the next big adventure.” Visitors to the country who want to crush a car are going to have to shell out about NZ$1000 for the privilege.

William Trubridge, who is the champion of New Zealand free diving [...]]]> It was quoted by the organiser of the campaign to save the Maui’s dolphin that they plan is to jepardise the tourism industry of New Zealand in order to get the required attention to protect the dolphin species from the possible danger of becoming extinct.

William Trubridge, who is the champion of New Zealand free diving world, is seeking the support of tourists, asking them to intervene by sending letters to the Prime Minister, asking him to provide protection for the Maui’s dolphin and mentioning a possible cancellation of their planned trips to New Zealand until this takes place.

A video about “convincing the Government of New Zealand to save those dolphins” was made by Trubridge. The video got more than 21,000 YouTube views. Trubridge mentioned on Breakfast this morning show on TV One, that the video had good national and international response. He also mentioned that people are being supportive and want those dolphins to be saved.

Recent reports by the Department of Conservation show that less than 60 Maui’s dolphins remain on the North Island’s West coast. There had been proposals for setting a ban for net fishing in the area between Pariokariwa in Taranki’s north to Hawera.

James Higham from the Department of Tourism of the University of Otago, said that as much as the protection is for those endangered animals it is also for the tourism of New Zealand, this is because tourism emphasises wild life. He also mentioned that dolphins are significant species and New Zealand is responsible for Maui’s dolphins well being.

He recently created a YouTube video which has had over 20,000 hits in which he asks potential visitors to New Zealand to write to the Prime Minister of the country [...]]]> The champion free diver William Trubridge has recently launched a campaign in order to encourage the New Zealand government to give the Maui dolphin sufficient protection.

He recently created a YouTube video which has had over 20,000 hits in which he asks potential visitors to New Zealand to write to the Prime Minister of the country and threatened to cancel their trips unless he offers adequate protection for the dolphin.

It is estimated that there are only around 50 of these dolphins left in the wild and Mr Trubridge recently commented in a television interview that his video has received a great deal of interest. He comments, “It is fantastic to see that people are just as concerned about this species of dolphin as I am. What is clear is that the country’s protective measures are not enough and they need to be changed.”

An expert in tourism, James Higham has commented, “Species going extinct is not good for tourism in New Zealand as many tourists come to see these animals every year. It is important that the government take adequate steps to ensure that the species survive. Mr Trubridge is doing a fine job of raising people’s awareness about this endangered species and the fishing practices that have made its numbers dwindle so significantly.”

Fishermen in the area have however have said that they are not the reason that the dolphins numbers are declining. The government have considered banning fishing in the area and this is something that the fishermen have spoken out against.

Associate professor of the tourism school of Otago University, Neil Carr said ” [...]]]> New Zealand is known as the land of adventure sports. It is the spiritual home of the white knuckled traveller with bungee jumping, rafting, heli-skiing, or rolling downhill in a big ball. New Zealand’s adventure sports tourism industry brings in approximately NZ$3 billion.

Associate professor of the tourism school of Otago University, Neil Carr said ” New Zealand is the leading adrenaline tourist destination, and this is partially because of the country’s physical landscape “.

A new idea of adventurous entertainment has been offered by one of New Zealand’s adventure sports companies. They are offering people to ride in a tank and even squash a car with a tank. Owner of the company Jonathan Lahy Neary said “The idea of crushing a car with a tank could release suppressed frustration”

Maximus, a British Centurion battle tank, powered with V-12 Rolls Royce engine, and weighing 52 tons is the number one tank for this operation. Soviet-era T-55 is another one, and there are also a few more.

Mathew Sandland said “I was surprised how easy it was to buy those tanks from dealers in Hungary, they sold us the tanks fully-functional and we had to pay them to deactivate the gun to be able to bring the tanks back to New Zealand”

Lahy-Neary mentioned that this new adventure is liked mostly by men, who are attracted to the tanks and love riding them, he also said that his customers range from teenagers to men around the age of 80. The cost of 15 minute drive is NZ$450 and if you want to crush a car then you need to pay an extra NZ$395.

Michel Noel, a Canadian tourist had a dream come true when he crashed a car with the centurion tank. He said “It took me a little bit of time to get used to it, specially the gears, but when I got it, it was just amazing”

It is an eight-day event which is going to take place from 14 April. Cyclists are allowed to enter and participate at whatever level they feel best [...]]]> The Tour of New Zealand is a cycling event that is taking place in New Zealand for the first time and has attracted a great deal of international interest.

It is an eight-day event which is going to take place from 14 April. Cyclists are allowed to enter and participate at whatever level they feel best suits their fitness and skill level.

Cyclists of all abilities are welcome at the event and it is possible to take part in a leisurely tour, or a more competitive cycling race with some of the best cyclists in New Zealand. The organisers have described this event as, “The most accessible cycling race that has taken place over several days in New Zealand. The scenery that those taking part in the event will be able to enjoy is also incredibly dramatic.”

The tour lasts for 700 kilometres and the event starts from two different locations, both located at different ends of New Zealand. Despite having different starting points, both events end at the same place, the Parliament Buildings located in the centre of the country.

Both of the routes that are available pass through some of New Zealand’s most diverse landscapes. Cyclists will pass through the limestone country in Waitomo, as well as the Alpine destination of Queenstown. The cycle route has been mapped to take advantage of some of the best rural roads in the whole country.

Cycling choice

With just a few days to go before registration closes, spokesman Simon Yarrell says that more than 300 people have signed up for Tour of New Zealand.

The entrants represent a wide variety of cyclists, and Yarrell is keen to point out that the event is not only about speed and competition.

Teams or individuals can choose to begin at either Cape Te Reinga, on the top of the North Island, or at Bluff, at the bottom of the South Island.

Individual participants are only required to do one stage to be part of the event. They can also choose whether to speed with the serious racers or dawdle their way checking out “the most amazing backdrop for cycling,” Yarrell says.

Teams must field up to five cyclists on each stage but substitute riders are permitted at any stage as the goal is to get the team colours to Wellington.

“Some are being quite competitive – like the Christchurch Boys’ High Team led by professional mountain-cyclist Anton Cooper, but for most it’s about the challenge to complete one day or one stage of the journey. It’s based on fun, fitness, and supporting community organisations.”

Iconic spots

The touring routes takes riders through a range of New Zealand scenery and country towns with stops at iconic spots for diversions off the bike.

In the South Island, cyclists will pedal past mountains and farmland, conquer high country passes, and glimpse the iridescent blues of the Southern Lakes. The North Island route swoops through ancient kauri forests, beside northern beaches, across the volcanic heartland, and the Whanganui River via kilometres of remote native bush.

The race timetable allows for three to six hours cycling each morning with free time in the afternoons and evenings for exploring the destinations, meeting the locals and enjoying the Kiwi hospitality experience.

On the eighth day, the riders will meet for a head-to-head criterium in the grounds of Wellington’s iconic Beehive to decide the winners in each category. This final blast around the 1.5km criterium course will start and finish on the steps of Parliament, under the watchful bronze eyes of past prime ministers.

Cycling lifestyle

Lifestyle-publication writers from Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, China and the UK have had their interest piqued by news of the event.

Tourism New Zealand’s Brand and International PR General Manager Catherine Bates says the Tour of New Zealand is an opportunity to showcase some of the best road cycling routes that could be part of a cycling holiday.

“We know that many potential travellers show a special interest in cycling. It’s an activity that has potential for growth and offers a compelling reason for international visitors to come to New Zealand.”

Bates says that the international media teams will have the opportunity to experience both the North Island and South Island stages of the tour – to fully sample New Zealand’s diversity of landscapes.

The tour will raise funds for the Hikurangi Foundation, Red Cross and St John. The latter two organisations had their coffers substantially emptied as a result of rescue efforts after Christchurch’s February 2011 earthquake.

Tour of NZ routes and daily stages

North Island Tour

Day 1: Cape Reinga to Kaitaia (111km)

Day 2: Opononi to Dargaville (79km)

Day 3: Dargaville to Brynderwyn (70km)

Day 4: Tuakau to Raglan (84km)

Day 5: Waitomo Caves to Taumaranui (102km)

Day 6: National Park to Wanganui (113km)

Day 7: Pahiatua to Masterton (74km)

Day 8: The Beehive Criterium, Wellington

South Island Tour

Day 1: Bluff to Mossburn (139km)

Day 2: Queenstown to Wanaka (76km)

Day 3: Wanaka to Omarama (113km)

Day 4: Tekapo to Geraldine (88km)

Day 5: Methven to Oxford (80km)

Day 6: Hanmer Springs to Kaikoura (126km)

Day 7: Blenheim to Picton (65km)

Day 8: The Beehive Criterium, Wellington

A full description and maps of the Tour of New Zealand is on the website: www.tourofnewzealand.co.nz

The Bike Festival is an event that takes place in Queenstown [...]]]> The show ‘Bikes I’ve Owned Versus Girls I’ve Fallen In Love With’ is an acclaimed performance by Joseph Harper, the comedian from Auckland. As part of the Queenstown bike Festival he is going to be performing this show on 29 March at the Crowne Plaza.

The Bike Festival is an event that takes place in Queenstown and sees over 20 competitions take place as well as numerous social events, all revolving around bikes. It is something that can be great for adults as well as children to attend and will appeal to both amateur and professional riders.

The show by Mr Harper is autobiographical and it has been met with great deal of critical acclaim. It recently was nominated for an award at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival and involves the theme of bicycles, misanthropy and love.

The 75 minute show traces the twenty-something span of his life story to date by punctuating the progress of his love life with various bike upgrades, the latest restoring back some equilibrium when the inevitable romantic trauma occurs.

Delivered in a relaxed and chatty style, this comedy begins with a retelling of his first amorous dream involving a velodrome, lycra and Sarah Ulmer, and ends on his musings on the similarities and differences between being in love and riding a bike,

Literally born on the back of a bike into a Christchurch family with a proud bicycling heritage, Harper presents himself as a “backyard cricket commentator, plain clothes bicyclist and nipponophile”,  amongst other things, and “possesses a Charlie Brown view of the world with dreams of a kind of plebeian zen”.

” I’m really glad to be performing in Queenstown.” Harper says. “Last time I came here I was 12. My brother and I were playing this game with my uncle’s dog and a tennis ball on a balcony. Long story short the ball got off, the dog followed and my brother spent the remainder of the holiday minding the dog with a broken leg.”

” I’m hoping this trip to Queenstown will be less tragic. Hopefully not tragic at all to be honest.”

The show is preceded by a casual dinner at the Crowne Plaza restaurant, and will be followed by the Bike Festival awards for the best “Made in New Zealand” bike.

Festival Director Geoff Hunt encourages bicycle builders from all over the country, professionals, gifted amateurs, artists and dreamers to show their creation, which may include road bikes, cruisers, cross, mountain bikes, downhill bikes, hot rods, porteurs (cargo bike) or commuters.

Qualifying bikes can be made from scratch, bamboo or other material, lovingly restored, or freshly manufactured, and can also be made with a creative twist.

Initially displayed in the shop window of R & R Sport Queenstown the week prior to the festival, these fabulous bicycles will be judged by a tongue in cheek jury constituted by the festival organisers, R&R Queenstown  and NZ Mountain Biker magazine.

The winning bike of the night will earn the ‘ Best Made in NZ with love” title.

Tickets for the opening night are $85, and include the show, meal and awards. They can be purchased at the Crowne Plaza or by contacting the Southern Traverse office on 03 441 8215.