[I NDUSTRY NEWS Jetstar has announced the return of flights between Hamilton and Australia. Three return flights per week between Hamilton and the Gold Coast and four return flights per week between Hamilton and Sydney. The first flights will take off in June 2025, in time for the New Zealand school holidays. The trans-Tasman commercial flights will be the first out of Hamilton in 13 years. The final Virgin Australia flight flew from Hamilton to Brisbane on 27 October 2012, ending 18 years of trans-Tasman flights. Waikato Regional Airport Ltd (WRAL) chief executive, Mark Morgan says the celebration comes after more than a year of “solid grind” by his team negotiating with the airline and border agencies. “It’s been hard, complex work, in a very sensitive commercial environment and we are thrilled to have pulled this off. The benefits for the entire region – not just passengers – are huge. Analysis indicates the flights will boost the regional economy by about $45 million per year. That’s fantastic for everyone; this is not just about the airport, it’s a great day for the region.” Hamilton Airport goes international again Hamilton Gardens has begun a new era with the opening of its enhanced entry precinct and the start of paid entry to the Enclosed Gardens. The precinct includes a new visitor hub, cafe upgrades, additional seating and improved venue spaces. Hamilton Gardens director, Lucy Ryan says the new entrance will deliver a more accessible and welcoming area, which features layers of historical meaning. “We wanted a design that honours the significance of the site to mana whenua and Ngaati Wairere. We worked closely with our mana whenua advisory group to develop a cultural design that would embed manaakitanga (extending hospitality, care and respect) into every element of the new entrance. “The Gardens is situated on and near numerous paa sites, and the use of tall timber elements encircling both the fern court and the Gallagher Visitor Centre building resemble the walls of a fortified paa along the awa. The large vertical posts, inspired by traditional Maori gardening tools (maara kai), form a palisade around the courtyard, protecting the precious gardens within. “Visitors will also see within the fern court, a whaariki (woven mat) is embedded into the concrete surface. This distinctive Tainui pattern, Te Hera o Tainui, is believed to have been used for the Tainui waka sail. In this context, it symbolises welcoming people and nations from ‘ngaa hau e whaa’ (the four winds) to this region; no matter where you’re visiting from, you are welcome here,” says Ryan. New era blooms for Hamilton Gardens Meeting Newz publisher Terry Holt caught up with Robin Mack, EGM, commercial and business events, Tourism Australia, at Australia Next (previously called Dreamtime), held in Cairns recently. In an effort to help supercharge the recovery of the business events (BE) sector, it’s the first time Australia’s premier incentive event has been held on consecutive years. According to the latest business events data from Tourism Research Australia, spend by international BE delegates exceeded preCovid levels, totalling $4.569 billion in the year ended March 2024. New Zealand topped the charts with 157,000 visitors crossing the ditch to attend business events – our spend was Australia Next $436 million, third after the US and China. Australia’s record levels of infrastructure and development in recent years gives New Zealand event planners new opportunities across the Tasman. “New and expanded convention centres and hotels, city precincts, and research and knowledge centres place Australia at the forefront of business events delivery worldwide,” says Mack. “We've seen approximately 236 hotels open across the country since 2020, both independent boutiques and major international chains like Marriott Adelaide and W Sydney, and more to come with openings from 1 Hotels in Melbourne and Waldorf Astoria in Sydney.” Keep a look out for further inspiration from the Australia Next event in Meeting Newz magazine, newsletter and website over the coming months. Robin Mack speaking at Australia Next Hamilton Gardens' new visitor entrance Photo: Hamilton Gardens [26] meeting newz [september october] 2024
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