News

New Zealand has two growing seasons and our plants can grow enormously quickly.  Sometimes it feels the same in tourism.  I was driving through the country once again last month, undertaking some supplier visits and product updates and was delighted at the pace and style of change. From new well-thought-through products like Kyle's cave in Waitomo, to Delani Brown's launch as a... > Read more

Waitangi Day is in essence New Zealand's national day.  It celebrates, on 6th February, the treaty signed between England and Maori chiefs in 1840, which forms the basis of modern New Zealand.  It was signed in the Far North, in the Bay of Islands at a place called Waitangi.  Every year, Maori tribes from all over the country congregate at Waitangi to commemorate... > Read more

Why come to New Zealand in June/July/August?  We actually prefer our clients not to come at this time, so we can enjoy some time off, catch up with new product, continue product development and also catch up with some marketing.  However, I thought it was time to write something about this time of year in New Zealand which is not without its attractions. Something which has been... > Read more

Many people offer 5-star "private houses" here in New Zealand - but very rarely are they delivering what they are promising. To make a private residence 5-star rather than 4-star requires service.  Housekeeping, chef, concierge and transportation.  To offer this much at a consistent luxury level requires management of a complex portfolio of specialists around the... > Read more

We all know that continuous evolution is a successful life strategy.  Wearied and battered after our 18-month effort culminating in our best season ever, trying to ignore the fact that a new season is around the corner, we have picked ourselves up and are moving ever forward with our vision for Ahipara. Quite a number of new initiatives will be announced in due course, taking us ever... > Read more

If I see a bandwagon, I usually run.  Bandwagons aren't cool.  For the last year or so I've been making clever remarks about John Key's cycleway plans, bandwagons, blinkered tourism chiefs, yes-men and so on.  Now I have to admit that it looks like it's working.  (and also that Tourism NZ look like they are becoming a lot more useful and in touch too!!!)  This makes me... > Read more

The other area we want to seriously look at is horse riding in New Zealand.  In the past, we have set up ad hoc luxury horseriding on private estates with a gathered seafood (abalone!) lunch, or visits to private equine establishments.  What we are now doing is turning our attention to developing more permanent horse riding and trekking capability throughout the country, and linked... > Read more

Huge apologies to our loyal client, fan, partner base.  We haven't sent out a newsletter since January because, with all your support, we've just posted our busiest year ever! It ended on Saturday with a highly successful visit by Tony Robbins' Platinum Partners.  A thoroughly enjoyable group, we were especially impressed with their openness and hunger for knowledge, insights and... > Read more

I was trained as a corporate strategist, my Masters thesis was about the future of IT, my childhood was spent travelling through inhospitable places.  The future, and especially the future of travel has always been a passion of mine.  Not satisfied with the two-dimensional (crispy green) rewards for a standard job, I've always pushed further as you will have seen from other... > Read more

Just before the Tony Robbins group in March I spent a week or two with our fastest return visitor.  Everyone promises to come back, some do.  Mr X came back only three months after he left.  He'd fallen in love with the country on his first visit and came back to deepen his connection here. We took him around the country looking at a number of investment properties, but of... > Read more