Government has a say on sale of Queenstown vessel to RealNZ

Government has a say on sale of Queenstown vessel to RealNZ
The Lady Bowen on an encounter nature cruise at Milford. (Image: Southern Discoveries)
Brent Melville
Southern Discoveries’ incoming chief executive, Kerry Walker, says the sale of its Spirit of Queenstown vessel will allow the tourism operator to double down on its Milford Sound and coaching operations.The sale of the 26-metre catamaran, which provides excursions on Lake Wakatipu, to RealNZ was announced on Thursday.But it remains conditional, partly because the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) still needs to approve the sale, given the 150-seat high-speed vessel is a material part of the Skeggs Group-owned tou...

More Tourism

Govt says cost to host 38th America’s Cup was too high
News in Brief

Govt says cost to host 38th America’s Cup was too high

The Government decided not to back Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s request to support hosting the 38th America’s Cup in Auckland due to cost.“After considering the proposal, ministers decided the estimated cost of $75 million, and possibly more – due to the uncertainty about local go...

Rebecca Howard 01 Apr 2025
Auckland Airport ‘just asking questions’ about airline competition
Infrastructure

Auckland Airport ‘just asking questions’ about airline competition

Regional NZ flyers are bearing a particular brunt, the airport says.

Pattrick Smellie 20 Feb 2025
Tourism industry struggles to keep up
Economy

Tourism industry struggles to keep up

Where to for NZ tourism in the long-term after NZ is done with its Briscoes-style sale?

Dileepa Fonseka 20 Feb 2025