Podcasts about akaroa

David updates Kathryn on the latest events in Christchurch, including two Environmental Law Initiative High Court challenges, the return of a former Christchurch mayoral candidate, and Pest Free Banks Peninsula has spent years getting rid of pests in and around Akaroa and now it's paying off. David Williams is Newsroom's Te Waipounamu South Island Correspondent.

The State of Emergency in Canterbury's storm-hit Banks Pensinsula has finally been lifted. But almost two weeks after severe rain lashed the region, causing flooding and slips, some Akaroa residents are still waiting to return home. Anna Sargent reports.

Banks Peninsula is still under a State of Emergency almost a week after heavy rain triggered widespread flooding and slips including an active slip on Lighthouse Road in Akaroa. Christchurch City Council controller Anne Colombus spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Canterbury communities of Little River and Akaroa are both still cut off from the rest of the country after yesterday's torrential rain flooded their areas. A state of emergency is still in place for Christchurch and Banks Peninsula with teams assessing the extent of slips and damage after the area had its fourth wettest day on record yesterday. While in Wellington, the blustery wind and driving rain has mostly died down. But power cuts and rubber neckers are causing the biggest nuisance as people there mop up from yesterday's storm. Lauren Crimp has more from the capital.

Stell dir vor, du hast die Gelegenheit, Neuseelands atemberaubende Südinsel zu erkunden - und dann wirst du krank. Leider ist es uns genau so gegangen, und wir konnten uns nur in kleinen Kreisen um Christchurch herum bewegen. Irgendwas Anstrengendes war nicht drin! Zum Glück ist eine gemütliche Fahrt zur Ostküste und die Banks Peninsula schon ein Erlebnis an sich. Auf unseren Ausflügen über Serpentinen und steile Straßen haben wir unsere Augen auf Reisen geschickt und die unbeschreiblich schöne und gleichzeitig schroffe Natur und den Pazifik auf uns wirken lassen. Und schließlich konnten wir noch die kleinsten Delfine der Welt, nasty Pinguine in Schuhgröße 39 und das Babybecken von Seelöwen sehen. Sogar ein fast echter Schneesturm hat und gebeutelt! Aber alles in allem müssen wir wiederkommen... Nachrichten kannst du uns sehr gerne hier draufquatschen (next Stop: Singapur!): [https://www.speakpipe.com/happytogo](https://www.speakpipe.com/happytogo) Unsere neue Sendung "Psychologie to do! - Dein nächster Schritt" ist hier verlinkt: [https://www.ardmediathek.de/sendung/psychologie-to-do-der-naechste-schritt/Y3JpZDovL3dkci5kZS9wc3ljaG9sb2dpZXRvZG8](https://www.ardmediathek.de/sendung/psychologie-to-do-der-naechste-schritt/Y3JpZDovL3dkci5kZS9wc3ljaG9sb2dpZXRvZG8)

The Cook Islands prime minister, Mark Brown, has provoked the wrath of NZ's foreign minister with his decision to head to China to sign a new strategic deal. By failing to consult on the pact, says Winston Peters, the Cook Islands was in breach of commitments made as a member of the New Zealand realm. Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas put on their geopolitical goggles to assess the strain in relations, which comes as the tussle between China and the United States for influence in the Pacific enters a new phase, marked by Donald Trump pursuing an isolationist approach. Plus: How did Tama Potaka and co perform at Waitangi last week, and did Christopher Luxon come up with some new material for Ngāi Tahu in Akaroa? Join NZ's favourite political podcast live in Auckland on 9th April at Q Theatre. Host Toby Manhire will be joined by Annabelle Lee-Mather (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Māmoe) (executive producer of The Hui) and Ben Thomas (former press secretary in the Key government) as they boldly step out of the studio and in front of an audience to cast a curious and caustic eye on New Zealand politics. Tickets on sale now at thespinoff.co.nz/events Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the far north, to Akaroa in the south, challenges were laid down before the government on a day usually reserved for prayer, reflection and festivities. Traditionally politics are off the agenda on Waitangi Day itself - but that wasn't the case this year. Political editor Jo Moir reports.

Luxon speaks to Ōnuku marae in Akaroa. Questions still remain about his inability to be at Waitangi, though the crowds reveled in a peaceful Waitangi Day. The Tim Jago, Act Party's former president and sex offender, story continues with questions around Act's handling of the allegations and Seymour's leadership. Meanwhile the media choose to platform again for having a fiance. Pat continues his Waitangi coverage, meeting the man that "enhanced the Treaty at Te Papa", Haimana Hirini, while thousands marched in Christchurch for Te Tiriti on Waitangi Day. ================================= Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠ ================================= Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ Follow us on Bluesky Pat @patbrittenden.bsky.social Chewie @chewienz.bsky.social Emily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.social Magenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

Labour leader Chris Hipkins will be among politicians welcomed onto the Treaty Grounds on Wednesday, although the Prime Minister will be absent, opting to commemorate Waitangi Day with Ngai Tahu in Akaroa tomorrow instead. Hipkins spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

This week it was the perennial should he or shouldn't he go debate about the Prime Minister. Personally, I'd always go to Waitangi if I were Prime Minister, even if it was just for one of the days of ceremonies. The Air Force is weak but they're perfectly capable of getting him to both Waitangi and Akaroa if he wanted to. It's said his non-attendance is a snub of Māori but there's another way of looking at it. He could be staying away because he doesn't want to ruffle Māori feathers. He has publicly said repeatedly that the Treaty Principles Bill is going nowhere so why go somewhere where he'll get the heat for something he's never intended to do? David Seymour can go and is. It's David's baby and he's more than happy to stand to it. He'll take the heat, and he'll give it back But our PM doesn't want to go somewhere where he'll be yelled at for something he won't do. So maybe this isn't a snub of Māori but it is one of his right wing supporters. They are getting increasingly vocal that they've been sold a damp squib. That he's no different to the other mob. A liberal. A globalist. A Māori apologist. And worst of all, a man without a plan. His weekly media round is becoming increasingly fractious with all sides demanding he actually do something more than cutting all spending. Questions about policy is being answered repeatedly with “we're looking at that down the track”. Which is this year's version of working groups and announcements of announcements. Hopefully Christopher Luxon has a pleasant time at Akaroa Harbour because that's the way he likes it. A quiet deferential crowd who loves the PM just because he's the PM. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"We want to get on with our own business" - that's the call from iwi chairs, as they meet in Waitangi today. Their hui coincided with the Prime Minister announcing he'll be spending Waitangi in the South Island on Thursday - Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro will join him there. Waitangi commemorations in the North kicked off this week with the long-awaited restoration and re-opening of Te Tii marae at a dawn service this morning. Political reporter Lillian Hanly is in Waitangi, and filed this report.

The Prime Minister has confirmed he will be hosted by Ngai Tahu in Akaroa for Waitangi Day on Thursday. Christopher Luxon announced in December he wouldn't be heading to Waitangi for this year's commemorations, saying he wanted to move around the country to celebrate the national day. Luxon spoke to Corin Dann.

On today's episode, the Prime Minister has confirmed he will be hosted by Ngai Tahu in Akaroa for Waitangi Day on Thursday, the Trade Minister says officials and the prime minister have been in contact with US counterparts, as Donald Trump continues to impose tariffs on US trading partners, the world's largest aid agency faces major cuts, and it could have a big impact on the Pacific, Iwi leaders have been laying out their goals for the year at Te Tii Marae as part of Waitangi commemorations, where they say Kotahitanga, or unity, has been high on the agenda, and New Zealand helicopter crews have received an international award for their work during Cyclone Gabrielle.

The Prime Minister has confirmed he will head south to attend Waitangi Day commemorations at Ōnuku Marae, near Akaroa - having previously announced he won't spend the national day in Waitangi. Ōnuku Rūnanga Chairperson Rik Tainui spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Christchurch City Council is defending its decision to press ahead with long awaited sewage plant upgrades for the Banks Peninsula township of Akaroa. Adam Burns has more.

Senior writer Alex Casey has a long history with cinema, both as a reviewer and as a former projectionist. This week she wrote two film-adjacent features. The first had Alex travel to Akaroa to speak to the people running a bustling local cinema and then go down a rabbit hole of South Island cinemas holding on to the movies as a third space. And the second is just a fun appreciation of our strangely high proportion of successful child actors, and what makes it possible to succeed here at 11 years old. She appeared on Behind the Story to talk local reporting, the magic of movies and the very best of our child actors. The small town cinemas holding on at the edge of the world How does New Zealand produce so many successful child actors? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We head to beautiful Le Bons Bay, just north of Akaroa in Banks Peninsula, where a fundraising effort is underway to purchase a large piece of land which is on the market, to create a public reserve. The Le Bons Bay Conservation Trust has a vision to buy the property, protect native flora and fauna, and allow walking access to the public. Jesse talks to Matthew MacDonald from the trust to find out more.

We head to beautiful Le Bons Bay, just north of Akaroa, where a fundraising effort is underway to purchase a large piece of land to create a public reserve.

Today Kiwi iconic band Zed release their first album in 20 years, Future Memory. Formed at Cashmere High School, the Canterbury band will celebrate with a launch party in Akaroa today. Bassist Ben Campbell joined John to talk about the album, their history and the pressure their fame brought the young group 20 years ago.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No-plant regeneration is a method that let's nature lead the way, and its seen landscapes transform from a scrubby paddock to a lush native paradise. Famously pioneered by Hugh Wilson in Akaroa's Hinewai Reserve, the practice is bearing fruit in Wellington's Long Gully Bush Reserve. Otari-Wilton Bush manager Tim Park speaks to Emile about the benefits of playing the long game.

Every year on Easter Saturday unwanted bric-a-brac goes under the hammer at a huge Paddy's Market and White Elephant in Akaroa. It's run by the Akaroa and Bays Lions Club which raises thousands of dollars for the local community

The Garden City is becoming more and more the home of that Aussie sap-sucking pest we knew so well in Auckland, and it shows in the number of people that contact us on talkback radio.  Until recently, this species was a North-Islander – it slowly spread further and further south: Nelson, Blenheim, Golden Bay, further south along the west coast and also down the east coast of the South Island: Kaikoura, Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.  I've seen them in Akaroa a few years ago, so they have been hanging around the warmer Canterbury spots for a while.  I reckon this is a nice example of climate change in action.  Damage to a large range of garden plants:   They suck sap from a wide variety of host plants, often climbers (Wisteria, Passionfruit vines) and Perennials (salvia, Hydrangeas, Camellia, you name it!!).  Sap-sucking is their big impact on garden plants – sometimes they debilitate their host, pooping honeydew all over the place and that creates a deposit of sooty mould, like with so many sap-sucking insects in the garden.  The damage starts as soon as the little fluffy-bums appear on the scene (in mid-Spring).  Now, these are the Passionvine Hopper control tricks for Autumn:  Currently they are adults, with quite cute moth-like wings that are partially see-through. These jumpy sapsuckers are impossible to hit with chemical sprays.   The female hoppers mate and lay eggs on thin twigs or branches and also on the tendrils of growing vines (such as Passionfuit vines):  Easiest thing to do is to find those egg-laying sites and prune them off in late autumn - early winter. Chuck them in the Ultra Low Emissions Burner and they won't hatch next spring.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've been to Akaroa recently, you may have stopped at The Cake Room and tasted beautiful cakes baked by owner Katey Thew-Thin.

Nik Mavromatis is Akaroa Salmon's Marketing Manager - he discusses the quality of NZ seafood and how the industry can be taken to the next level. Tune in to REX every day for the latest and greatest rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's First Up pod - car maker Ford reverses it's decision to scrap AM radios in their American-built cars; we talk bank for your buck as an iconic Akaroa landmark goes up for sale; Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni on another interest rate hike and selling the budget to the Pacific community and the island dance group from Rotuma - performing to keep their language alive. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod - car maker Ford reverses it's decision to scrap AM radios in their American-built cars; we talk bank for your buck as an iconic Akaroa landmark goes up for sale; Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni on another interest rate hike and selling the budget to the Pacific community and the island dance group from Rotuma - performing to keep their language alive. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

Gigantic colourful sculptures tower in an artist's landscaped garden wonderland on Banks Peninsula. Built in 1881, a grand historic house in Akaroa welcomes visitors to wander its colourful terraces over-looking the harbour. It's home for the past couple of decades to artist and horticulturalist Josie Martin, who started this quirky project when she settled down after thirty art residencies all over the world. She first started mosaics here when she discovered a treasure trove of old china dumped in the grounds of her house, from before the days of rubbish collections. Today it's a Garden of International Significance. And, she tells Kathryn, it's in an on-going labour of love, bringing together her two loves, horticulture and art. She calls it The Giants House. Some of her sculptures are 5 metres tall.

On the latest episode New Zealand's Banks Peninsula and Lyttelton which is bursting with creative temptations. Soak in some island jaunts and explore the charms of Akaroa. Further afield, bucket-list your way to South America, to Cusco and the wondrous waterworks of Iguazu Falls.

This episode we discuss Joels Twitter wars, Reaper drones getting buzzed by Russians, The mighty Suzuki Jimny, Lotto winning dreams, Akaroa food, Kumara chips, The lifestyle block, CBDC's, Banking crash, Pretentious tiny home owners, Sustainability, Lake of piss, Manuka honey, Helicopters, HPL asperger's,  Racoon dog, Gold doping and heaps more. Enjoy.  Support The Joel and Tim Show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=74670148

Coming up there's a chance to have a nosey around the manicured gardens of Akaroa. Jill Simpson talks to Jesse about the chance to visit some of the most beautiful gardens in the South Island.

New research has found that increased cruise ship activity in Akaroa Harbour is impacting the behaviour of Hector's dolphins. Will Carome's just published his findings on the issue and talks to Jesse about what he's seen.

OverviewIn episode 104 Chris answers a listener question about the ss Norway, whilst Baz brings the latest cruise news from around the world, including the new Kimberly season for Le Ponant (pictured).Image Credit: Le Ponant by Ponant. Support the showListen, Like, Subscribe & Review on your favourite podcast directory.Share the podcast with someone you think will enjoy the showBuy Me A Coffee – This podcast is only possible thanks to our supporters, simply buying a coffee keeps us on air. It is just like shouting your mate a coffee, and we consider our listeners close mates. https://bit.ly/2T2FYGXSustainable Fashion – choose a TBCP design or design your own… all using organic cotton, green energy and zero plastic https://bit.ly/32G7Rdh.Listener QuestionAlice from Miami asks Chris “Was the ss Norway originally a liner before conversion to cruising?”Cruise NewsPONANT unveils Pinnacle Kimberley Experience onboard iconic Le Ponant for 2023Ponant is set to take luxury expeditions to another level, opening sales for their highly anticipated 2023 inaugural Kimberley sailing expedition programme onboard the company's iconic three-masted sailing yacht Le Ponant.Commencing on 7 April 2023, Ponant ‘s programme of 26 new itineraries onboard Le Ponant for the 2023 Kimberley season covers the Northern Kimberley, Southern Kimberley, and the Rowley Shoals.Ponant's expertise and signature travel visions onboard Le Ponant highlight the unique mix of adventure, sustainability, and barefoot luxury. The newly refurbished yacht has been transformed to feature the latest technical innovations to reduce emissions and is equipped with state-of-the-art Zodiacs for shore landings and excursions. Having been entirely renovated with a sleek, sophisticated design by Jean-Philippe Nuel Studio, Le Ponant offers an intimate setting with only 16 staterooms for a maximum of 32 guests being looked after by 32 crew members.  An invitation to sail and experience Australia's breathtaking Kimberley coastline on a journey that combines exploration and eco-responsibility in luxury. As an exclusive addition to this experience, the Northern and Southern Kimberley itineraries include an exclusive charter flight between Kununurra and Kuri Bay or Broome and Kuri Bay on board one of Australian company Paspaley's vintage Grumman Mallard flying boats to take guests from or to their embarkation point, as well as an exclusive guided visit of Paspaley's pearl farms in Kuri Bay.Viking Saturn Meets Water for First TimeViking announced its newest ocean ship—the 930-guest Viking Saturn—was “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Scheduled to debut in April 2023, the Viking Saturn will spend her maiden season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe.The traditional float out ceremony took place at Fincantieri's Ancona shipyard and is significant because it denotes a ship moving into its final stage of construction. The float out of the Viking Saturn began at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time when the Viking team cut a cord that signalled water to flow into the ship's building dock. Following a two-day process that will set the Viking Saturn afloat, she will then be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.Viking Saturn – Viking's ocean vessels have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, with 465 staterooms that can host 930 guests. The Viking Saturn will join the award-winning fleet of identical sister ships, which includes Viking Star, Viking Sea, Viking Sky, Viking Orion, Viking Jupiter, Viking Venus and Viking Mars. The Viking Neptune will be delivered in late 2022.Its Official – Authentic Gelato Experience at SeaItalian Chamber of Commerce Certifies Gelato Experience On Board Princess Ships as First to Offer the Authentic Confection Outside ItalyWith the start of summer, scooping up one of Italy's most famous desserts from Gelato onboard Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess just got a little sweeter. The Princess Cruises gelato shops have been designated as Ospitalità Italiana, and are the first and only locations to offer an authentic Italian gelato experience outside of Italy.The prestigious Ospitalità Italiana designation is issued by the Italian Chamber of Commerce committee, an organisation of the Italian government, and confirms that every step of the gelato-making process meets or exceeds a strict set of standards as approved by official Italian auditors and experts, who review the process on a yearly basis. Only gelato shops that attain outstanding quality status are awarded the official Ospitalità Italiana certification.Princess Cruises handcrafts its fresh gelato with Italian-certified ingredients and equipment each day in the pastry kitchens onboard the cruise line's three newest ships – Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess. Corporate pastry chef Eric Le Rouzic trained with the best Italian chefs at the Gelato Carpigiani University in Bologna and the Gelato Comprital Atheneum in Milano to master the art of making this heaven in a bowl. Princess uses top-of-line gelato machines by renowned manufacturer Carpigiani and the Gelato display cases were produced in Italy by expert craftsmen.Fun Fact – Gelato Isn't Ice CreamAccording to legend, the recipe for Gelato was popularised when architect Bernardo Buontalenti was asked to create a special confection for a member of the Medici noble family in the 16th century. Buontalenti mixed milk, eggs, sugar and extracts in a special machine surrounded by ice and salt, and egg cream-based gelato was born.While it's creamy, gelato has less butter fat and fewer calories. The authentic Italian ingredients are combined with Princess' freshly sourced fruit and is made each day with milk, not requiring the extra fat from cream that is needed in ice cream for a longer shelf life. As a result, a scoop of gelato is 80-100 calories and the sorbet or “fruit gelato” has no fat and is only 50-60 calories, with no dairy.Christening Ceremony in Barcelona for Costa ToscanaCosta Cruises celebrates in the port of Barcelona the christening ceremony of Costa Toscana, the newest Italian-flagged ship in the Costa Cruises fleet, that leads to the discovery of “the art of living the sea”.Godmother of Costa Toscana is Chanel, a young singer, actress and dancer who enjoyed great success in Spain and in all Europe after her exhibition during the 2022 Eurovison Song Contest. She will join the ship's Captain Pietro Sinisi for the ribbon-cutting ceremony in which a bottle will be shattered on the ships bow, as per maritime tradition.Costa Toscana represents the restart of Costa Cruises' fleet, which will operate 10 ships this summer. Summer 2022 appears to be heading toward a significant upswing in travel. According to research commissioned by Costa Cruises from Human Highway in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, nearly 14 million of Europeans dream of taking a cruise in the next 12 months.Costa Toscana is a true travelling smart city; Thanks to the use of liquefied natural gas, it is possible to eliminate almost completely the emission of sulfur oxides (zero emissions) and particulates (95-100% reduction) into the atmosphere, while also significantly lowering emissions of nitrogen oxide (direct reduction of 85%) and CO2 (up to 20%).During summer 2022, Costa Toscana offers a week-long itinerary making calls in some of the most beautiful cities and islands of the Western Mediterranean, including two calls in Spain: Savona, Civitavecchia/Rome, Naples, Ibiza, Valencia, and Marseille.COSTA by CARNIVALCosta Cruises announces a new program for the next seasons for Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze as the Company teams up with Carnival Cruise Line creating a new concept for Carnival's North American guests when COSTA by CARNIVAL debuts in the spring of 2023 and Costa Venezia joins the Carnival fleet. Costa Venezia will be followed by Costa Firenze arriving in the spring of 2024.Carnival will operate Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze with an offer that will marry Costa's Italian style with the great service, food, and entertainment that Carnival's guests enjoy. The ships will continue operating their regular Costa itineraries until they are assigned to Carnival for deployment.Carnival Luminosa will homeport in Brisbane from November 2022 Carnival Cruise Line announced today that Costa Luminosa will join the Carnival fleet in September and will start guest operations as Carnival Luminosa in November 2022 from Brisbane, Australia. The acquisition of Luminosa is an update to the previously announced plans for Carnival to take Costa Magica, which will now remain at Costa Cruises.After this delivery, Carnival Luminosa will operate seasonally from October through April from Brisbane, then reposition to Seattle, where it will sail Alaska itineraries from May through September, before returning to Brisbane.Luminosa is a sister ship to the four other popular Spirit class ships that already sail for Carnival. Entering service in 2009, the ship accommodates up to 2,826 guests and 1,050 crew at 92,720 gross tons.Rolls Royce on Carnival Ecstasy Gets a New Home on Carnival CelebrationFor three decades, an antique Rolls Royce has been sailing the high seas – on board Carnival Ecstasy. Now, the well-known fixture will continue its travels on Carnival Cruise Line's next new ship, Carnival Celebration.The vintage car, a 1934 Rolls Royce Saloon, was carefully offloaded from Carnival Ecstasy while the ship was docked in Mobile, Ala. last Thursday (click here to see video). It is being carefully shipped to the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland where Carnival Celebration is under construction.The car thousands of Carnival guests have admired and taken pictures of over the years will soon find a new home adjacent to The Gateway, a two-deck zone aboard Carnival Celebration which celebrates travel and the excitement of exploring new destinations.The Gateway zone includes The Golden Jubilee, a bar venue highlighting Carnival's evolution of ships over the last 50 years. The bar will feature memorabilia and original pieces from several of Carnival's earlier vessels and so the Rolls Royce will add to the nostalgia.Carnival Ecstasy's designer searched all over the United Kingdom to find the perfect car to fit the space outside the ship's Rolls Royce Café. It was acquired from a small antique car dealer in the hills of Northern Wales. Carnival Ecstasy is finishing its final sailing season and will be retired in October.Carnival Celebration, the second of Carnival Cruise Line's new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-powered ships will begin service in early November with a 14-day transatlantic voyage from London (Southampton) to its homeport of PortMiami. Her arrival will continue the celebration of Carnival Cruise Line's 50th birthday.THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS! – 100 DAYS UNTIL CARNIVAL SPLENDOR'S RETURNCarnival Cruise Line is today celebrating 100 days until the return of Carnival Splendor to Aussie shores. Following a successful season cruising in Alaska, Sydney's own Carnival ship will arrive home on 30 September, bringing the Carnival fun back to guests and crew.With over 900 days since her last Australian cruise, Carnival Splendor will offer Sydneysiders a range of action-packed itineraries from Aussie favourites including Moreton Island and Carnival's famous Melbourne Cup cruises, to New Zealand and to stunning South Pacific ports including Noumea, Isle of Pines and Mare.Carnival Splendor offers a host of exclusive features for Aussie guests to both discover and rediscover, including:Green and Gold waterpark: The action-packed Carnival Waterworks was built specifically for Australia in green and gold colours, complete with a world-first on a cruise ship – the Green Lightning thrill-slide that begins with an impressive 11.3-metre free-fall drop. Waterworks also boasts a 104-metre-long Twister Waterslide, power drencher tipping bucket and mini racing slides.Splashy Cove: Splashy Cove is a special waterpark created just for little ones with fun to be had splashing about with spray toys and mini waterslides. It's also home to a colourful mural inspired from drawings by patients from The Children's Hospital at Westmead.Cloud 9 Spa and Serenity Retreat: For Aussies who love to relax, Carnival Splendor features the Cloud 9 Spa and Suites, offering everything from a thalassotherapy pool, to thermal suites and state-of-the-art fitness centre. Adults can also unwind at the well-known adults-only Serenity Retreat and enjoy the sea breeze with a cocktail in hand.Dining options: Featuring over 17 different dining options including Masala Tiger, made precisely for Aussies' adventurous tastebuds and offering fresh and flavourful Indian cuisine straight from the tandoor. Juice and Java, a juice and coffee bar, has also been created exclusively for the Aussie market, while Fahrenheit 555 offers the finest cuts of beef available at sea, cooked to perfection. These tasty offerings join Carnival fan-favourites, such as Seafood Shack, Pizzeria del Capitano and Guy's Burger Joint.Australia's favourite coffee: Carnival has partnered with Vittoria Coffee, Australia's number one pure coffee brand, to make sure the fresh new JavaBlue Café delivers flat whites, long blacks and lattes to perfection.Carnival Splendor's first passenger cruise from Sydney will depart on 02 October 2022.Six Months Until Norwegian Spirit Debuts Down UnderNorwegian Cruise Line (NCL), is celebrating the six-month countdown to the Australasian debut of the all-new Norwegian Spirit for her inaugural local sailing season.A completely reimagined ship following her extensive bow-to-stern USD$100m renovation – the most expensive refurbishment in NCL's 55-year history – Norwegian Spirit's arrival on 22 December 2022 also marks NCL's long-awaited return to Australian waters.Norwegian Spirit will sail 10 local itineraries between December 2022 and March 2023, including a selection of eight 12-day open-jaw sailings between her dual home-ports of Sydney and Auckland, visiting a variety of regional and metropolitan destinations such as Hobart, Burnie, Melbourne and Eden in Australia, as well as Napier, Tauranga, Wellington and Akaroa in New Zealand. Plus, she will offer two Extraordinary Journeys through the South Pacific, from Papeete to Sydney in December and Sydney to Papeete in March 2023. Norwegian Spirit then returns in December 2023 for her second season home ported in Australian waters.Top Three Destinations to ExploreBurnie: Tucked away on the northwest coast of Tasmania, Burnie is a quaint seaside enclave renowned for its eclectic shopping, local maker's workshops, boutique chocolate shops, cafes and galleries – the ideal spots to pick up unique souvenirs to treasure back home. Other highlights include strolling along the Emu Bay waterfront, learning about local wildlife at the Little Penguin Observation Centre or whisky tasting at the internationally acclaimed Hellyers Road Distillery.Tauranga: The largest city in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is a hub for fishing, sailing, kayaking and adventure sports. Those who prefer their action on the ground will enjoy the city's shopping and gallery scene, or a seaside meal at the buzzing Strand Waterfront precinct. The nearby Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park is popular with travellers keen to hike, spot native birds or learn more about the area's gold mining history.Doubtful Sound: A genuine wilderness wonderland, Doubtful Sound is less a port of call and more a scenic sailing experience, characterised by dramatic landscapes, cascading waterfalls, sheer cliff faces and captivating wildlife, including bottlenose dolphins, fur seals and penguins. Larger yet less visited than Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound's majestic beauty will captivate travellers who enjoy areas of untamed natural beauty, and there is no better way to take it all in than from the deck of a cruise ship.NCL commits to Asia 2023-2024 ItinerariesNCL will return to Asia for the 2023-2024 cruise season, featuring 12 immersive and port-rich sailings ranging from 10- to 12-days on board Norwegian Jewel as well as a 16-day Extraordinary Journey from Seattle, Washington (U.S.) to Tokyo, Japan.The extensive season will operate from October 2023 to March 2024 and will see a vast choice of departure ports including Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan; Taipei (Keelung); Singapore; Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Malaysia; Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand; Benoa, Bali; and Seoul (Incheon), South Korea. In addition, the Company will make “Brand first” visits to four ports in the region including Puerto Princesa, Boracay, Salomague and Hualien, where travellers will explore the natural beauty and rich culture of the Philippines and Taiwan.Norwegian Jewel returns to Asia for her second successful season in the region following a 16-day repositioning cruise from Seattle, Washington (U.S.)  to Tokyo, Japan via the wilds of Alaska. Her port-intensive Asia itineraries mostly include less than two sea-days per cruise as well as multiple late-night departures and overnight calls on select itineraries in Osaka, Japan; Singapore; and Phuket, Thailand. Almost all cruises are open-jaw, allowing travellers to bookend their voyage with land explorations in different exotic destinations.On board Norwegian Jewel, guests can enjoy numerous amenities including action-packed activities at the outdoor Sports Complex, high energy Zumba® and Flywheel Sports® classes, and multiple uniquely themed bars and lounges, including Bliss Ultra Lounge where guests can dance the night away. Norwegian Jewel, with a guest capacity of 2,376, also offers some of the largest suites at sea with staterooms that accommodate every style and budget. The ship also offers a Haven Deluxe Owner's Suite that features the most luxurious, well-appointed accommodations on board, including a 24-hour butler service.NCL Year round in Europe Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), announced its return to the Canary Islands for the first time since 2017, delivering guests more choice and flexibility with a year-round Europe cruise offering in 2022.Following a grand 22-day transatlantic voyage from Miami to Lisbon, Norwegian Sun will make her return to Europe offering immersive Canary Island sailings from 21 November 2022. Cruises on board the nearly 2,000-passenger ship will range from 10 to 14 days and will provide guests with greater flexibility by offering a choice of embarkation ports, including Lisbon, Portugal; Malaga, Spain; and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands. Furthermore, during Norwegian Sun's debut six-month season in the region she will call to various new ports for NCL, including Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura) and San Sebastian de la Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain; Cueta, Spain; Agadir, Morocco; and Horta (Azores), Portugal.Including Norwegian Sun, nine NCL ships are sailing in European waters this summer and make up the greatest European fleet in the cruise line's history. Calling at more European ports than any other contemporary cruise line, NCL will offer guests greater choice than ever before, including Norwegian Prima, the newest member of NCL's fleet and the first in the ground-breaking Prima Class, set to debut in Iceland in August 2022. NCL's extensive range of European itineraries in 2022 include voyages to the Greek Isles, the Norwegian Fjords, the Mediterranean and the Canaries.Double Newbuild milestones for MSC The Cruise Division of MSC Group and Chantiers de l'Atlantique celebrated two important milestones for MSC Cruises' first two liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels both under construction in Saint-Nazaire, France.MSC World Europa, the first LNG vessel to join the cruise line's fleet and set to become the biggest LNG-powered cruise ship in the world, completed her first set of sea trials in the Atlantic Ocean that included testing the performance of the ship's engines, manoeuvrability, fuel consumption, safety systems, speed and stopping distances.Meanwhile, MSC Euribia was floated out and has now been moved to a wet dock for work to continue on the ship before she also joins MSC Cruises' fleet in June 2023.MSC has invested €3 billion in three LNG-powered cruise ships and the construction at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique yard in Saint-Nazaire of the third ship – ‘World Class II' – is due to start early next year.Viking Announces New 2024 Ocean VoyagesViking has today announced the release of several new ocean voyages and new 2024 departure dates on some of their most popular itineraries.New voyages include the 36-day Grand Fjords & Iconic Viking Shores taking in the striking natural beauty of Iceland, Greenland and the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia; plus two new itineraries combining the West Indies with the Mediterranean and the Iberian Peninsula.In addition to new 2024 departure dates on some of their most popular voyages, Viking has also announced they will be re-opening two Hawaiian voyages exploring the islands of Hawaii, Oahu, Maui and Kauai and traversing the South Pacific to Moorea, Bora Bora and the secluded Marquesas Island.New itineraries include:36-day Grand Fjords & Iconic Viking Shores from Amsterdam to New York City or v.v. Departures: June and July 2024.25-day West Indies & the Mediterranean from San Juan to Venice or v.v. Departures: March 2024.13-day West Indies & the Iberian Peninsula from San Juan to Barcelona Departures: March 2024.Voyages with new departure dates:17-day Hawaiian Islands Sojourn sailing Los Angeles return – Departures: December 2023 and February 2024.33-day Grand Hawaii & Polynesia sailing Los Angeles return – Departures: November 2023 and January 2024.18-day Panama Canal & the Pacific Coast from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles or v.v. – Departures: January and March 2024.29-day Greenland, Iceland, Norway & Beyond from Bergen to New York City or v.v. – Departures: May to August 2024.22-day Mediterannean & Adriatic Sojourn from Athens to Barcelona or v.v. – Departures: February to September 2024.15-day Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada from Reykjavik to New York City or v.v. – Departures: June and August 2024.8-day Iceland's Natural Beauty circumnavigating Iceland from Reykjavik – Departures: July and August 2024.Windstar Celebrates 35 Years in the Tropical Paradise of TahitiIt's the island paradise so beautiful that French artist Paul Gauguin couldn't stop painting it. Fletcher Christian didn't want to leave it and mutinied (on the HMS Bounty) to stay there. Remote, tropical, romantic, and beautiful – it's one of the world's most aspirational places to visit: The Islands of Tahiti, otherwise known as French Polynesia.  The Islands of Tahiti are best accessed via small ship – allowing effortless travel amongst some of French Polynesia's most storied and iconic 121 islands and atolls. Small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises simply knows it best, having sailed the longest of any operator in the region and celebrating 35 years of Tahitian sailings in 2022. It's also the only destination where the U.S.-based cruise line sails year-round, giving guests ample opportunity to plan a once-in-a-lifetime visit in any season.This October, there's double the chance. The 148-guest Wind Spirit, complete with sails built for the breezes of the South Pacific, is sailing around the Islands of Tahiti now, but in October, Windstar will move the all-suite, 312-guest Star Breeze to the region, increasing capacity with two yacht options to choose from. All-suite Star Breeze features newly transformed guest suites,  two new restaurants, a new World Spa, an infinity pool, and more. Although without sails, Star Breeze is ideal for accessing the shallow lagoons that helped make the destination famous. Both Wind Spirit and Star Breeze feature Windstar's signature sports platform, opening up right off the back deck into crystal clear waters perfect for swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding .  In February 2024, Star Breeze will move to Tahiti year-round in place of Wind Spirit.A-ROSA SENA completes maiden voyageOn 18 June 2022, the A-ROSA SENA departed from Cologne for her maiden voyage with her first guests on board. Prior to this, the ship was blessed in Düsseldorf by Deacon Michael Inden, as well as christened by Clara Eichler, daughter of A-ROSA CEO Jörg Eichler, in the presence of the management, the investors and the crew. Due to supply challenges, the first cruise started slightly later than initially planned, which meant that this ceremony took place in a small circle only. Thanks to the hybrid propulsion system, the first departure was accomplished with the help of electrical energy from the battery storage.Guests and crew were excited about the sustainable new ship: “A-ROSA SENA's design is truly unique on the river. Together with the spacious interior layout, she offers a completely new travel experience”, comments hotel manager Dennis Brenner. Captain Ulrich Schwalbe adds: “Thanks to the hybrid propulsion system and the exhaust gas purification filter, you don't notice any emissions on board and can just enjoy the pure cruising experience.” The E-Motion Ship recently received the “German Award for Sustainability Projects 2022” for her environmentally friendly technologies.Throughout the summer, the A-ROSA SENA offers 7-night voyages from Cologne via Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Antwerp. Guests can disembark individually or discover the destinations through exclusive shore excursions organized by A-ROSA. Whether a gracht tour in Amsterdam, a visit to the miniature world Madurodam in Rotterdam, a canoe trip through the nature reserve Biesbosch or a culinary city tour through Antwerp – there is something for all tastes. The last day of the trip is a cruising day during which guests can enjoy everything the ship has to offer at their leisure: The large SPA-ROSA with sauna, whirlpool and massage room, the fitness area, two pools on the sun deck, the Kids Club for little guests and various restaurants and bars.Queensland Couple Embarks on Two Years Back-to-Back Cruising as Coral Princess Begins Historic Inaugural Cruise SeasonIn an amazing illustration of their passion for cruising, Brisbane couple, Jessica and Marty Ansen, embarked on an incredible two years of back-to-back cruising as Princess Cruises' Coral Princess, the first cruise ship home ported at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, began its first cruise season following the restart of the Australian cruise industry.Jessica and Marty Ansen have previously sailed on 31 cruises with Princess with 1,173 days at sea. They have been anxiously awaiting cruising's restart to indulge their love for holidaying on the high seas with a landmark 53 separate cruises between now and August 2024.And the couple is not ruling out adding more voyages to keep their life at sea sailing along into the future.“Cruising offers the ultimate holiday experience. You go onboard, you only unpack once, and you have all this amazing entertainment, exceptional food, great company and you can see the world. And, the crew deliver incredible service – that's why we cruise.”The Ansens booked their two years of back-to-back cruises (795 sea days) – including two round world cruises in 2023 and 2024 – with Brisbane-based family-owned travel agency, which has specialised in booking cruise holidays since 2007.And moreJoin the show:If you have a cruise tip, burning question or want to record a cruise review get in touch with us via the website https://thebigcruisepodcast.com/join-the-show/ Guests: Chris Frame: https://bit.ly/3a4aBCg   Chris's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisFrameOfficialPeter Kollar: https://www.cruising.org.au/Home Listen & Subscribe: Amazon Podcasts: https://amzn.to/3w40cDcApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2XvD7tF Audible: https://adbl.co/3nDvuNgCastbox: https://bit.ly/2xkGBEI Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/2RuY04u I heart Radio:  https://ihr.fm/3mVIEUASpotify: https://spoti.fi/3caCwl8 Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2JWE8Tz Pocket casts: https://bit.ly/2JY4J2M Tune in: https://bit.ly/2V0Jrrs Podcast Addict: https://bit.ly/2BF6LnE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Country Life this week heads out to sea with an Akaroa salmon farmer and meets pickers helping out with a bumper feijoa harvest in Hawke's Bay.

Akaroa Salmon's ocean farm floats discreetly in a tranquil bay near the heads of Akaroa harbour. Seventeen huge round netted pens are home to thousands of King salmon of varying sizes. Duncan Bates built the farm with his father Tom from scratch nearly four decades ago.

New speed limits are coming for routes between Christchurch and Akaroa. Waka Kotahi is also introducing other measures to improve road safety in the area. Director of regional relationships James Caygill spoke to Corin Dann.

WILLKOMMEN im zweiten Teil meines Abenteuers in Neuseeland. Hier erzähle ich von den Anfängen des Roadtrips, den ich durch dieses wunderschöne Land machen durfte. Hier sind nun wie versprochen die genannten Orte: Motueka Abel Tasman Nationalpark (Anchorage Bay, Cleopatra Falls) Adele Island (Kayaking Tour + Wassertaxi zum Apple Split Rock) Collingwood (The Innlet Hostel) Harwoods forest bei Takaka -> Harwoods Hole & Lookout Wharariki Beach (Farewell Split) Punakaiki (Beach Camp) Pancake Rocks & Blow Holes & Punakaiki Caves Punakaiki River Track bis zur Swingbridge Truman Track Arthur's Pass (The Sanctuary Hostel) Devil's Punchbowl Walking Track Arthur's Pass Historic Walk Arthur's Pass Track Avalanche Peak (737m - 1833m) Akaroa, Banks Peninsula (französische Kolonie) Lake Tekapo Tekapo Springs Mount John Church Of The Good Shepard Lake Pukaki, Twizel-Camping, Scenic Flight von Hannah mit Air Safari Von da an geht es dann weiter zu neuen Abenteuern im vierten Teil. :) Alles, alles Liebe Euch und ein herzliches Namasté! Eure Isa

Descended from both the French and early English settlers in Akaroa, Linda Sunderland is the Chairperson of the Comte de Paris Descendants Group, a member of the Akaroa Cemeteries Group and owner of Akaroa Guided Walks. 

Descended from both the French and early English settlers in Akaroa, Linda Sunderland is the Chairperson of the Comte de Paris Descendants Group, a member of the Akaroa Cemeteries Group and owner of Akaroa Guided Walks. 

Tuesday 1st June, 2021 The AM Show Comine and Adrian Kennedy were on their way home from a lovely weekend in Akaroa when they were suddenly caught in flooding that occurred in Canterbury. Lucky for them there were locals near by who could help. They joined the show to talk about their experience.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite new cases of COVID appearing locally, Australians are flocking to book accommodation in New Zealand - before a quarantine free trans-Tasman bubble is confirmed next week. New data shows the pending bubble announcement has seen Australian bookings of holiday homes jump 117% in New Zealand over the past month.Surprisingly, bookings around ski areas are lower than expected with Australian's opting for New Zealand beaches and locations better known for their vineyards and cuisine.The top 10 locations for Australians booking in New Zealand are Raglan, Tauranga, Waiheke, Marlborough, Mount Maunganui, Marlborough Sounds, Martinborough, Akaroa, Whangamata and Hanmer.

Yesterday morning, I thought I’d start my programme with another call to rationalise or even nationalise our water and wastewater operations. This is prompted by situations facing Waikouaiti, Karitane and Turnberry who have now been joined by Akaroa.  Towns whose basic necessity, water, has been poisoned by lead and opossums.  They join a long line of shameful water management including our capital. If the government wants a shovel ready infrastructure project to get their teeth into then fixing the nation’s water supply should be at the top of the list. But that was yesterday. Today we’re back in lockdowns.  Called faster than ever before, which caused a strange pandemonium. I have a great sympathy for all the Cafes and hospitality businesses, who suddenly had just minutes to hours to sort their stock out.  Frantically trying to save food before being forced to throw it all out and the money it represents. But I understand the need for health services to crack on.  I’ve always found it strange that having decided a lockdown was necessary we delayed the lockdown for days.  It’s not like the virus takes any time off.  It’s always working 24/7. What I don’t understand is the panicked exodus to baches that occurred. I understand that lockdown is better at the beach but what part of Stay Safe Stay Local do the beachgoers not understand?Are they aware that the locals hate the invasion because of the pressure already basic medical services and supply chains for smaller supermarkets?  Do they not understand that they could be just like the woman at the centre of this current cluster who felt she didn’t have the virus.  That meant she felt free to ravel.  That meant she could have introduced the cluster to New Plymouth. Anyone of the bach refugees could be introducing the virus to retired populations in Pauanui, Whitianga, Keri Keri or Mangawhai. Are the bach refugees also aware of the disdain they’re held in by the people whose businesses are forced to shut down in lcokdowns? Their sacrifices are being ignored.  The exodus completely negates the purpose of lockdowns to halt spread, when Aucklanders are spreading themselves all over the island. Finally, we have a vivid example of why you should scan the codes.  The woman at the centre of this cluster thought she was sweet and took a roadie to Taranaki and neglected to scan.  Leaving the good people in New Plymouth in a state of suspended existence waiting for the worst. Will she be able to remember the places she went in a town she is unfamiliar with? Was it so hard to spend five seconds to hold a phone up to a QR code?

As holiday house prices skyrocket there are fears locals will be priced out the market. That's the view of an economist, as data from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand shows the median price in many beachside towns is soaring. Year-on-year sale prices in Waihi Beach and Akaroa rose 50 percent - and sale volumes have also climbed. Jordan Bond reports.

Christchurch City Council plans to build two treated waste water storage ponds in a picturesque Banks Peninsula settlement are causing anger among Akaroa locals. Friends of Banks Peninsula says the proposed fix to the town's ailing waste water system will be an eyesore and does nothing to assist with the township's drinking water crisis. In addition to creating the storage ponds the council's Akaroa Treated Waste Water Hearings Panel has recommended lobbying central government to make it possible for "purple pipe" systems to be introduced for non-potable reuse of treated wastewater. 17 councilors including the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor will vote whether to go ahead with their preferred option on Thursday 10th December. Kathryn Ryan talks to Sue Church from Friends of Banks Peninsula and Councillor Sara Templeton Akaroa Treated Waste Water Hearings Panel Chair.

Christchurch City Council plans to build two treated waste water storage ponds in a picturesque Banks Peninsula settlement are causing anger among Akaroa locals. Friends of Banks Peninsula says the proposed fix to the town's ailing waste water system will be an eyesore and does nothing to assist with the township's drinking water crisis. In addition to creating the storage ponds the council's Akaroa Treated Waste Water Hearings Panel has recommended lobbying central government to make it possible for "purple pipe" systems to be introduced for non-potable reuse of treated wastewater. 17 councilors including the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor will vote whether to go ahead with their preferred option on Thursday 10th December. Kathryn Ryan talks to Sue Church from Friends of Banks Peninsula and Councillor Sara Templeton Akaroa Treated Waste Water Hearings Panel Chair.

A piece of land once a part of a major Ngāi Tahu flax trading village and where a massacre of the iwi happened has gone on the market. A privately owned property in Akaroa known as The Red House is surrounded by council-owned historic reserves collectively known as Takapūneke Reserve. The Christchurch City Council is considering purchasing the house before it goes to auction next week.  Sally Murphy filed this report.

Catch up with Rory, as he has an exclusive interview with Akaroa, and talks all about how his band Portland got together, recording the first EP, and getting their record deal!

Travel writer Mike Yardley has a tip for travels around Akaroa Harbour.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE 

Holiday home and AirBnb owners in Christchurch say moves by the Council to regulate their sector are anti-tourism and unfair. Christchurch City Council is moving forward with plans requiring short-term rental accommodation providers to apply for a one-off consent at a cost of at least $1000. The proposed changes to the District Plan have come about after pressure from the motel and hotel sector, concerns over the impact of short-term rentals on the housing supply and the changes to neighborhoods from the turnover of temporary visitors. Kathryn speaks with Sue Harrison, director of Christchurch Holiday Homes who manages 50 homes in the city and Akaroa. Also Christchurch City Councillor Sara Templeton, Chair of the Council's Sustainability and Resilience Committee and member of the Urban Development and Transport Committee.

Today on the show we hear from Jimmy Barnes about a crazy gig he did, and visit Akaroa for Poo Towns. Plus the latest Betoota News, and the latest MAD DOG to join the club!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A program dedicated to all things French.

Poem; Minneapolis City Council looks at new police system; Activists call for protesters to dump statue of Captain Cook; Akaroa restaurant named after 'Bully Hayes' to change name.

An Akaroa restaurant named after William "Bully" Hayes plans to change its name after a Pacific historian called for the name to be dropped.

Writer and academic Scott Hamilton has taken issue with the name of a restaurant and bar in Akaroa, saying it honours slavery.

Duncan Bates founded Akaroa Salmon with his father Tom three decades ago, with an experimental licence from the Akaroa County Council. It was an experiment that paid off. The initial pens full of hand-fed fish have now expanded to include a specialised processing plant and hatchery which produces over 200 tonnes of king salmon a year.

Listen in to Mark & Pili's EPIC (yes we said it!) adventure to New Zealand! Where they spent 2 weeks van-camping around the South Island of New Zealand. Mark highlights their destinations and travel experiences, beginning with the oceanside picturesque town of Akaroa, road trip took them to the iconic glaciers and stunning turquoise blue lakes surrounding the iconic Mount Cook, to the mind-blowing fjord cliffs and never-ending, breathtaking waterfalls of world-famous Milford Sound, And finally to the magical seaside town of Kaikoura. If there is any part of you that is considering an amazing New Zealand adventure you'll want to listen in to hear about Mark & Pili's bucket-list worthy experiences, and what they learned along the way, including many travel tips!

Tom Hickman is a race director with a big heart and strong social conscience. Founder of the Bali Hope Ultra who has raised over $250,000 for charity in Bali is now in New Zealand joining forces with Kyron Gosse a runner who did the Bali Hope Ultra but whose Aunty was killed in teh Christchurch Mosque Attacks. Both men were moved to action, wanting to do something, to make a difference in the face of what was New Zealands' blackest day. They decided to use running as a way to unite people together, to comemorate the victims and their lives and raise money for the Red Cross.   The Unity Ultra is a 51 mile (one mile for every victim) event from Akaroa to Hagley Park in Christchurch and will take place on the 21st of March.  If you would like to know how you can get involved with this wonderful event either as a runner, a sponsor or fundraiser please visit  www.theunityultra.com   We would like to thank our sponsors Running Hot - By Lisa Tamati & Neil Wagstaff If you want to run faster, longer and be stronger without burnout and injuries then check out and TRY our Running Club for FREE on a 7 day FREE TRIAL Complete holistic running programmes for distances from 5km to ultramarathon and for beginners to advanced runners.   All include Run training sessions, mobility workouts daily, strength workouts specific for runners, nutrition guidance and mindset help Plus injury prevention series, foundational plans, running drill series and a huge library of videos, articles, podcasts, clean eating recipes and more.   www.runninghotcoaching.com/info and don't forget to subscribe to our youtube channel at Lisa's Youtube channel  www.yotube.com/user/lisatamat and come visit us on our facebook group   www.facebook.com/groups/lisatamati Epigenetics Testing Program by Lisa Tamati & Neil Wagstaff. Wouldn’t it be great if your body came with a user manual? Which foods should you eat, and which ones should you avoid? When, and how often should you be eating? What type of exercise does your body respond best to, and when is it best to exercise? These are just some of the questions you’ll uncover the answers to in the Epigenetics Testing Program along with many others. There’s a good reason why epigenetics is being hailed as the “future of personalised health”, as it unlocks the user manual you’ll wish you’d been born with! No more guess work. The program, developed by an international team of independent doctors, researchers, and technology programmers for over 15 years, uses a powerful epigenetics analysis platform informed by 100% evidenced-based medical research. The platform uses over 500 algorithms and 10,000 data points per user, to analyse body measurement and lifestyle stress data, that can all be captured from the comfort of your own home Find out more about our  Epigenetics Program and how it can change your life and help you reach optimal health, happiness and potential at: https://runninghotcoaching.com/epigenetics You can find all our programs, courses, live seminars and more at www.lisatamati.com 

A tribute to Māui and Hectors dolphins is being held in Akaroa this Sunday the 28th of October at 2pm.Dolphin Defenders are organising this tribute to honour and observe the loss of a pregnant mother and calf Māui dolphin three weeks ago off the North Island West Coast; five Hector’s dolphins killed in a net near Christchurch earlier this year, and others of least fifteen Māui and Hector’s reported dead this year already. Chris Lynch spoke to local dolphin advocate Genevieve Robinson about the event.

Christchurch has failed to make the list of the country's top attractions in the latest Lonely Planet guidebook.Wellington made the top spot as the "coolest little capital in the world".Auckland, Queenstown and the West Coast have all made the list but Christchurch didn't feature.Loren Heaphy, ChristchurchNZ General Manager of Destination and Attraction, told Chris Lynch it's a bit devastating but there are a lot of local attractions on there such as Akaroa, Kaikoura and the TranzAlpine railway which starts and ends in the city. 

Ever wonder what to do with your loved ones ashes? Chuck Munat wanted his ashes scattered around the world. More specifically, he wanted his ashes sprinkled in Ireland, on Squirrel Island in Maine, and in Akaroa, New Zealand. After Chuck died, Florrie, his wife and caretaker, took his remains to New Zealand where Chuck was welcomed home by family, friends, and three hundred pairs of nesting little blue penguins. Florrie wrote about her experience in her essay “Coming Home” from our book Just a Little More Time.

How do you get clients to return? One of the most underrated tactics is often right under your nose. Yet most people having events don't realise the mistake they're making and have to work a lot harder to get clients to come back. In this episode we look at what every business should do: not just get a client but get the client to come back repeatedly. Read online: How to Get Clients To Return To An Offline Event ============ If you head down to the South Island of New Zealand, you'll run into a little French town called Akaroa. The story goes all the way back to 1838 when the commander of the French whaling ship Cachalot what can only be called a slightly questionable purchase of the land around the area. Then, the French colonists left France to sail to New Zealand to establish a French colony. The French did get to Akaroa but found a treaty had been signed between the Māori and the British. The whole of New Zealand was officially a British colony. As the story goes, the French were just a wee bit late. The French seemingly missed out on yet another colony, and we can feel the impact of being late when it comes to testimonial-gathering as well. But why testimonials? Because testimonials are the lifeblood of any organisation, product or service. The more testimonials you have in place, the more the prospective client can experience your product or service, long before they pay for it. Which is why books have testimonials on their dust jackets, and websites have testimonials on every single product or service. But back to the concept of lateness If you wait long enough, the client is unlikely to give you a testimonial, simply because they've gotten too busy. It's also harder for the client to gush as much once they've moved on. 2) How and when to get testimonials Getting a testimonial for an event is almost as important as the event itself. For one, when a client gives a testimonial, they're ratifying they made the right decision to attend the event. However, it gives you, the person holding the event, a chance to make sure you never have to struggle to fill in seats in future. Which is why you should get testimonials during the breaks If you don't have breaks in your event, there's no way to stop the juggernaut from rolling on. At Psychotactics we have workshops, and for information-based events, it's critical to have many breaks or clients simply get more tired. If you're having an event like a cooking class or a watercolour class, something that's not usually break-oriented, it's easy to forget that every event could do with a break of some sort. People need to get to the toilet; they need just to step outside or reduce the intensity of what's happening. Most trainers or people hosting events fail to pay attention to the concept of breaks, merely because they think it will stop the flow of the event. What you'll quickly realise is that people regroup speedily and focus better after a short break. It gives you some downtime as the organiser, and it leaves some room should something go wrong during the event. If you simply go from one end to the other, you're not really planning for any chaos, and as we know, that's a hazardous strategy. Chaos can erupt from nowhere, and it's best to prepare for it in advance, by having at least one, if not several breaks. It's in this break that you're going to be able to get your testimonial Usually a client will be having a great time and will come and tell you so. It will quickly be evident as to who's having the most fun, and you can usually go up to them and ask if you can shoot a quick video. Be prepared to know in advance where you can shoot the video, ideally some places that are slightly quieter and away from the scene of action. I tend to use another room or another area close enough, but far away from the group. Ideally get 2-3 people to give testimonials, and in about 10 minutes, you can get about three quick testimonials that can be used in a video, audio, or when transcribed, in text format. Be sure to use the six-questions found in The Brain Audit The Brain Audit gives you typical questions to ask a client, and when you use the format of the six-questions, you get a client experience instead of yet another sugar-coated testimonial. It also gives you a clear pathway to follow when asking the testimonial. You rarely have time as you have to get back to the event itself. Even so, you may well run out of time, and it's good to schedule testimonials for the breaks, but also for a short time after the event. Despite all your best intentions, sometimes it's not possible to get the testimonials, or all the testimonials during the event. Even if that's the case, ask people if you can call them on Skype video and get a testimonial. Most people will agree, and that serves as a form of an appointment, and you've more or less got your testimonial in the bag. Waiting for a testimonial after the event can often be too late Once people leave, or if they don't make a commitment to speak later, the task of getting a testimonial gets increasingly harder as the days go by. You're eager to recover after your event, and they're keen to go back to their lives. This means you've lost the one thing that's incredibly important to business: third party proof. Getting a testimonial needs to be almost as important as conducting the event itself. At Psychotactics we've goofed not once or twice, but often It's quite tiring getting an event off the ground. You're never quite sure whether clients are quite ready for the testimonial. And notice that break? That break should give you a breather as well, but you're often using it to get testimonials. However, we've had to learn to structure our testimonial system in a way that we get a bit of a break and get our testimonials too. There are times when it's all too much to do on the day itself. For instance, we hosted some really popular meetups that were three hours long but went on for six and seven hours. It was difficult to break away from the fun and chatter to record a testimonial. It does feel a lot like work, and it takes an iron resolve to keep working when everyone is having a great time. If it's really so hard to break away, simply ask the group to write each of their names on a piece of paper and give it to you. Later, you know who's keen to provide you with the testimonial, and you can call in or video chat and get your testimonial. Testimonials are how clients decide, so getting them early is critical to your business. But there's one more thing to cover, isn't there? It's about getting the clients back. How do you do that? Let's find out. 3) How to get clients to come back. If you were to get a dolphin to do a trick in the pool, would the size of the reward matter? In the wonderful book, “Don't Shoot the Dog”, author, Karen Pryor talks about how a dolphin would learn and execute a trick. However, the trainer decided to give the dolphin a smaller fish as a reward. You'd think the dolphin wouldn't bother too much, considering a fish is a fish, is a fish. However, dolphins do care about the specifics too, just like humans. Which is why if you get a client to come to your event once, you're going to have to figure out how to get them to keep coming back. You've probably heard that getting a new client is the most expensive part of a business, right? Even if you don't spend any money on advertising or publicity, getting a client to trust you and attend your first event is a huge task. And your mission should be to get the client to come back repeatedly, if possible. When a client trusts you, they're likely to sign up at higher prices, and without needing you to create a long sales page and endless promotional messages. Which brings us back to the fish, doesn't it? Why do clients tend to come to one event and never return? There are many reasons why clients may not return, but one of the most significant responsibility lies with you One of the biggest reasons why clients come to information based events is, ironically, not to get information. We may believe they come to get more knowledge, but YouTube is full of information. So is Google, Bing and their inbox. The reason they're coming to you is to get less confusion and more skill. Strangely, the information you're imparting can only be less confusing if you just what's required. When we started out with Psychotactics, we had no idea how to get the client back to an event We got lucky because we sat down and did some planning in advance. At the very first event, where I presented early concepts found in The Brain Audit, I had an ending section where I talked about follow up sessions. For $75 a month, clients could be part of a group that learned different concepts just like The Brain Audit. We'd didn't have the money to book a venue, so we asked for help, and people offered their offices since no one was around after 6 pm anyway. But why did clients sign up for the follow-up sessions? It's because they got their reward, their right-sized fish, the first time they showed up. That presentation, as amateur as it may have been, got them to a result and they were keen to come back. If you're hosting an event, clients are eager to get a similar sort of reward } If you're teaching them how to do a pose in yoga, please don't spend the evening showing them ten thousand poses. Show them one or two and get them to a result. If you have a cooking class, don't run around like a headless chicken trying to get five-six dishes going. A single dish, maybe two will do the job. Clients are increasingly going nuts with the level of information that's streaming through their doors. What they're looking for isn't a bucketload of fish. They just want one—provided it's the right size. When we did our first event, we didn't expect anyone to sign up for future events All the same, we put our strategy together and were pleasantly surprised when about ten people signed up and consistently showed up over the year to follow. Some of those clients then attended higher priced workshops and even ended up consulting with us. All of this information is very important for those of us who've grown up believing that everything can be done online. The internet is a great tool to market our business, but just starting up a blog and hoping people will visit is a strategy that may get you quickly disappointed. The core of today's world is a factor of overwhelm, but also a sense of loneliness. Which is why an offline workshop or event should deliver not just a factor of skill, but also the chance to meet others on a similar journey. So what do you do from this point on? The first thing you need to do is to work out how you can get the client the reward he/she is seeking. If they come to an event that promises they'll learn to make mozzarella, then all of them should be walking out with that mozzarella-making skill. Once you have them at the event, and possibly get a few testimonials, you need to do them the courtesy of asking them to come back repeatedly. Even if you're hosting an event in a different country, there's a high likelihood that clients will come back to future events. Over 50% of the attendees at any event, have met with us before or been through our courses or events. We invite them back to another event, and they come along happily because they enjoy the experience. If you're going to do an event, plan for six, or ten This is true especially if your audience is local. The key is to prepare, go into the event, give the participants a skill and call them back. That's the way to go about making sure your events are full in future. Three things to consider: 1) Where you'll get your clients 2) How and when to get testimonials 3) How to get them to come back. Now go out there and host your event and give your computer a break . Next Up: Imagine being a hostage at your own workshop! Imagine not having access to your own venue; having to take permission from someone else just to conduct your event. This is the crazy story of the very first Psychotactics U.S. Workshop. And while it's an entertaining story all by itself, there's a lot to learn as well for any small business owner. Click here to read more: The Psychotactics Story_The Craziness of The Very First US Workshop

Hearing an oral history recording of his nana talking about her relationship to the land and food has changed the life of Ngai Tahu rangatahi Keefe Robinson-Gore. He was sad to think that his people had lost the skills she talked about the gardens, fruit orchards, even making their own butter. He's also concerned that this has come at a huge cost to Maori, not only in health but also socially. Keefe wants to create a thriving eco system at his home marae in Akaroa that will produce an economic return and free healthy food for his whanau. He's coming up with ideas this summer as part of the Inspiring Stories Trust's Live The Dream programme.

With the gods Poseidon and Tangaroa in mind, Wallace Chapman talks with marine scientists Dr Rochelle Constantine and Dr Tom Trnski, the musician Don McGlashan and the CEO of Sustainable Coastlines Sam Judd about the oceans which surround us. Among the many issues they traverse is the complex one of how we protect our marine reserves while still sustaining a fishing industry.