New Zealand

New Zealand: Unsafe for Asians?

Date: July 2nd, 2008 |

Three arrests in the 2003 murder of a Korean tourist have led to the reopening of an investigation into the disappearance of a 64-year-old Japanese tourist and a concern among Asian groups that New Zealand may be unsafe for Asians or those of Asian descent. Both the New Zealand-Japan Society and the Korean Society raised [read more]

New Zealand: Heed Warnings at Franz Josef Glacier

Date: February 21st, 2007 |

No Comments

The Franz Josef Glacier on the South Island is a popular place for tourists, but signs warning visitors to keep away are there for a reason, as two unfortunate visitors learned recently. They and about a dozen others ignored the signs and went into an ice cave on the glacier’s terminal face only to have [read more]

New Zealand: American Hiker Dies from Hypothermia

Date: May 2nd, 2006 |

No Comments

A 70-year-old American woman became the sixth tourist to die this year while hiking in the mountains when she and her partner, a 64-year-old American man, got disoriented at the top of their trek on the Tongariro Crossing and lost their way as night fell. They felt they had lost the trail because the descent [read more]

New Zealand: Head-Butting Welcome

Date: December 13th, 2005 |

No Comments

Confirming that it is a good idea to appreciate a local welcome, a Dutch tourist got his nose broken when a Maori cultural group performed a traditional welcome for him. The man gave a nervous grin during the performance but one of the warriors thought he was laughing at them so he head-butted him. The [read more]

New Zealand

Date: December 27th, 2004 |

No Comments

It is a good idea to wash off any chemical residues from sunscreen or cosmetics before spreading mud from sulfur mud baths on your face, two English tourists learned recently in Rotorua. They were relaxing at the popular Hell�s Gate resort when, like many other tourists enjoying Rotorua�s famous mud pools, they spread mud on [read more]

New Zealand: Volcano Erupts onto Ski Slope

Date: September 26th, 2007 |

No Comments

Mount Ruapehu volcano erupted suddenly Sept. 25 spewing mudflows down a ski slope, causing the evacuation of two ski lodges, forcing the temporary closure of roads on the mountain, and injuring four people, one seriously when rocks crashed through a mountain shelter. Vulcanologists called the eruption minor but it came without warning. Scientists planned to [read more]

New Zealand: Rail Strike in Wellington

Date: July 4th, 2006 |

No Comments

A pay dispute between rail maintenance workers and management caused the suspension of train service between Wellington and Auckland June 29. Workers say they only want their pay to be brought in line with other rail workers and the strike is a last resort. They have refused to work overtime or to be on call [read more]

New Zealand: Trekking Adventures Have their Risks

Date: March 14th, 2006 |

No Comments

Hiking on the South Island of New Zealand draws some million tourist a year, but the deaths of two visitors in February have authorities wondering if too many people underestimate the dangers of backcountry treks because of New Zealand’s benign reputation. According to a Department of Conservation manager, once hikers are an hour or so [read more]

New Zealand: Airline Strikes

Date: July 20th, 2005 |

No Comments

A series of 48-hour strikes by Air New Zealand�s long-haul crews has disrupted many international flights, causing the cancellation of about 20 flights a day. The strikes began July 18 and were set to continue July 21 and 24. Flights to Asia were the most effected, but service to Australia and through Pacific nations to [read more]

New Zealand

Date: September 28th, 2004 |

No Comments

New Zealand has a reputation for safety but does have crime like any other place. Recent incidents near Rotorua have caused a tourism industry leader to call for safety classifications for tourist sites, so visitors will be less likely to step naively into trouble. Kerosene Creek, a popular hot spring about 12 miles south of [read more]