RotoruaNZ on LinkedIn: #rotorua #architecture #designawards #worldarchitecturefestival… (2024)

It’s great to see Rotorua’s popular accommodation options like Millennium Hotel Rotorua not only refurbishing their property and offering guests a fresh and modern stay experience, but ramping up their sustainability practices – including during the refurb – and solidifying its position as a leader in green hospitality.The hotel participated in the Sustainability Mentoring Programme last year, funded by RotoruaNZ (through government funding), as part of the Rotorua Destination Management Plan and.Millennium Rotorua is also a founding member of the Rotorua Sustainable Charter, established in 1998 by a group committed to making Rotorua the most sustainable destination in the Southern Hemisphere. The Charter is renowned for creating achievable benchmarks and community-focused initiatives, fostering sustainable practices across the region.Check out Millennium Rotorua’s story to learn more about their upgrades and sustainability journey: https://rb.gy/md7vuv #RotoruaNZ #Sustainability #MillenniumHotelRotorua #GreenHospitality #RotoruaSustainableCharter

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We’re launching our new video series, shining a spotlight on the amazing individuals at RotoruaNZ. For our first episode, we'd like you to meet Haydn Marriner. As our brand and marketing manager, Haydn has dedicated the past four years to driving our mission forward with uncontainable enthusiasm and creativity. He has always been a fierce advocate for our city and his enthusiasm in ensuring Rotorua is known far and wide as the best place in the world to visit. Haydn was responsible for delivering outstanding results for RotoruaNZ, across many years and many campaigns. Ngā mihinui kia koe.Sadly, this post also serves as a farewell to Haydn as we wish him good luck on his next adventure. Haydn, your dedication, endless anecdotes that brightened our days, tireless work ethic, and genuine curiosity will truly be missed.Thank you for everything, Haydn. Here's to the next chapter!E te uri o Ngāti Rangitihi, o Tarawera maunga, me uaua ka kite i te tangata o tō momo. Ko te ihi, te wehi, te wana ki roto i a koe, ka kaha rangona e te iwi, ā, nā tō whakapapa tēnā i tutuki. E kore e mimiti te puna o ngākaunui, o ngākaumahaki ki roto i a koe. Ka whati ko te tai, e pāo koe te tōrea.#RotoruaNZ #ChillAndChat #MeetTheTeam #team

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Rotorua railway: Ngongotahā to Tarukenga railway line reopens after 24 yearsThe Ngongotahā to Tarukenga railway line has reopened after 24 years and was celebrated with a special event over Matariki.The section of Rotorua’s original rail network is part of Rotorua Rail Cruising, whose operations include self-drive rail car trips.The business opened in 2011, initially running from Mamaku to Tarukenga. Following new ownership in April 2024, the track has now extended through to Ngongotahā.The Rotorua railway was closed as a normal passenger railway in October 2001.Rotorua Rail Cruising’s new Ngongotahā rail station opened on Friday with a one-off night-time event where visitors experienced the 6.6km of new track and light displays and heard from local iwi about Matariki and the history of the whenua, a statement said.Rotorua Rail Cruising rail guide and Ngongotahā local Chaylse McLeod said it was great to get the community and local iwi together to celebrate the opening.The team had forged a good relationship with local iwi Tura Ngāti Te Ngākau and Ngāti Whakaue ki Ngongotahā, he said.“The cherry on top has been working closely with iwi, learning about stories from the Ngongotahā area, and creating a meaningful event that honoured our heritage, celebrated new beginnings, and brought the community together,” McLeod said.https://lnkd.in/gnmZr3dP

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Rotorua Matariki Events Exceed ExpectationsWith an estimated 30,000 gathering to celebrate Matariki at the ARONUI Indigenous Arts Festival Drone Show, the long weekend kicked off in iconic fashion for our local visitor economy!The ARONUI Indigenous Arts Festival set the Rotorua Lakefront alight, drawing an estimated 10,000 spectators on Thursday night and an incredible 20,000 on Friday night from across the country to celebrate Matariki and witness Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Matariki drone show.ARONUI founding festival director Cian Elyse W., one of the key collaborators on the show, says she’s blown away by the overwhelmingly positive response. “Arts are a rongoā (a medicine) that connects all peoples. With what’s happening around the world right now, we need art as an avenue to express ourselves, to tell our stories, in our own backyard, on our terms. Art gives voice to the silenced, it protests quietly and profoundly, and brings inspiration in times of hopelessness.”Matariki holds deep significance for the Māori community, but the now-established public holiday is for everyone who lives in or has a connection to Aotearoa.At Te Puia | NZMACI, the day started with a 5:00 a.m. Hautapu Ceremony led by New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Pou Tāhū Te Waata Cribb and Te Rāngai Kawa – Te Tokotoru a Manawakotokoto. It showed deep respect for ancestral practices, acknowledging the past, present, and future through three key parts of the dawn ceremony.Te Puia also hosted their annual Whānau Fun Day, which drew families from across Aotearoa and saw 1,200 people attend. Te Puia General Manager Visitor Experience Denise Emery said she was overwhelmingly delighted with the response from the community and the vibe at the event.“It’s been very whānau-oriented, it’s been relaxed, everybody’s enjoying the music, the weather, games, Matariki storytime, crafts, and the market stalls.“The most popular activity has been the train rides to Pōhutu Geyser. Being able to have the concert outside too has been lovely. Sitting outside in the sun on the grass, watching the kids imitating some of the haka moves and wanting to join in filled us with joy.“The kids I asked today knew it was Matariki, what it meant, and how many stars there were. Any kōrero around Matariki is starting to become normalised, and we want that for Te Ao Māori because our culture is beautiful. I hope the Kiwis and international manuhiri that came today now understand a bit more.”This Matariki in Rotorua uniquely connects culture and people, showcasing the beauty of Te Ao Māori and the shared stories that inspire and unite us all.

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Rotorua tourism shines bright with Four Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice AwardsRotorua is bursting with pride as three of its premier tourism attractions have been honoured with four prestigious Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, highlighting the city's unparalleled experiences and natural beauty.Rotorua Canopy Tours’ Original Tour has set an exceptional standard, earning two coveted Best of the Best Things to Do awards. It clinched the number one spot in the Top Experiences New Zealand category and achieved an impressive 10th place in the Nature & Outdoors – World category. This recognition underscores Rotorua Canopy Tours’ commitment to providing unforgettable adventures while showcasing the region's stunning environment.Rotorua Canopy Tours GM Paul Button says, “We are incredibly proud to be recognised as the #1 activity in New Zealand and among the top 10 nature activities in the world. The consistency of the awards is incredibly humbling and rewards the energy and effort we put into our biodiversity work and the visitor experience.”Rotorua Rafting Limited has also made waves, securing fourth place in the Top Experiences New Zealand category. Their incredible rafting experiences on the Kaituna River leave visitors in awe by combining whitewater thrills within pristine, breath-taking scenery with captivating cultural history, all the while heading toward the world’s highest commercially rafted Tutea Falls.Adding to the city’s accolades, Real Rotorua has achieved seventh place in the Top Experiences New Zealand category. Their authentic and immersive Nocturnal Adventure Glow Worm Tour offers manuhiri a unique opportunity to connect with the local culture, landscapes and colonies of the famously incandescent, native glow worm, further enhancing Rotorua’s reputation as a must-visit destination.Andrew Wilson, CE of RotoruaNZ, says, “We are incredibly proud of Rotorua Canopy Tours, Rotorua Rafting, and Real Rotorua for their outstanding achievements. These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our tourism operators – not only these three, but all of whom consistently deliver world-class experiences. Rotorua’s recognition on a global platform like Tripadvisor not only brings honour to our city but also reinforces our commitment to providing exceptional tourism experiences to our visitors.”These accolades from Tripadvisor, based on reviews and ratings from travellers around the world, reaffirm Rotorua's status as a premier destination for adventure and nature enthusiasts. The city continues to attract visitors with its rich cultural heritage, world-class spa and wellness activities, geothermal wonders, and diverse outdoor and adventure activities.For more information about these award-winning attractions, please visit their respective websites:- Rotorua Canopy Tours: https://lnkd.in/gaBr-vv - Rotorua Rafting: https://lnkd.in/gt3sfBiq - Real Rotorua: https://realrotorua.co.nz/

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Last night RotoruaNZ had the fantastic experience jointly hosting the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) NITE at Meetings 2024.Founded in 1973, SITE is a professional association with 2,650 members across 90 countries, working in corporations, agencies, airlines, cruise companies, and the entire destination supply chain. SITE brings value to its members globally and locally through networking, online resources, education, certification, and advocacy. Held at the fantastic Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, the evening really showcased our global award winning indigenous owned luxury spa and wellness venue, but also what makes our industry so special here in Rotorua, the warmth of the manaakitanga of our people. Special thanks to Debbie Robertson and her team at Wai Ariki for hosting us and to the fantastic SITE whanau. This event was jointly hosted by our venue partner, and ourselves. Thank you to all the work that our Business Events leader Vanessa Wallace did to make this event so special.#SITE #Meetings2024 #IncentiveTravel #EventIndustry #Rotorua #WaiAriki #Manaakitanga #YoungLeaders #GlobalNetworking #TravelExcellence #LuxurySpa #Wellness #BEIA #IndustryEvents #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking #EventExperience #TravelProfessionals

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#Meetings2024 began over the weekend for our RotoruaNZ Business Events team, hosting buyers from all over the world in a two day pre-event familiarisation experience. Even with the colder weather, our community was on show, demonstrating why we are the place for New Zealand's warmest winter! Last year Meetings was held in WellingtonNZ and an unbelievable $157M in contracts were signed. This year, with over 1100 attendees and a record number of buyers, we are hoping that it could be a little more. f you are here in Rotorua for Meetings 2024 and are really looking for that something extra to help take your next conference or event into the stars, then pop over to our stand and visit with our professional team of Vanessa Wallace, Leah Morrison and Jesse Tamm and find out why Rotorua must next destination of choice. #MEETINGS2024 #Manaakitanga #Rotorua #Community #Whānau

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Next week begins MEETINGS 2024 here in Rotorua. MEETINGS is the biggest conference sales event in New Zealand and hasn't been here in Rotorua for some time. This amazing event brings over 1100 attendees and is where millions of dollars of conferencing, events and incentive business is won. The immediate economic benefit to hosting this wonderful event for our visitor economy is full accommodation and busy restaurants. Beyond that it gives our world class destination the chance to showcase ourselves to business opportunities from around the world, secure business for years to come and increase our reputation as a leading destination in the world. Rotorua is fizzing with excitement and energy and our arms are open in welcome to all of our manuhiri! We must thank the team at Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), particularly Lisa Hopkins for their belief in us, to bring this very special event to Rotorua. And to our RotoruaNZ Business Events team under the amazing leadership of Vanessa Wallace, who have worked tirelessly for months to ensure that this MEETINGS 2024 will be nothing short of spectacular - Mauri Ora!! If you are coming to Rotorua for MEETINGS 2024, please make sure you swing by our booth, say Kia Ora, and enjoy our manaakitanga! Let us take care of you!#MEETINGS2024 #ROTORUA #BUSINESSEVENTS #CONFERENCE #INCENTIVE

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Have you ever tried our style of cooking a trout at Hot water beach - Lake Tarawera?Top chef Sachie Nomura explores this and more Rotorua in the latest episode of Sachie’s Kitchen.Nomura, who runs Sachie’s Kitchen cooking school in Auckland, is on a culinary tour around New Zealand, inspired by local produce.In this episode, she visits Rotorua, starting with a boat trip on Lake Tarawera. She meets Ngahihi o te ra Bidois, catches a trout, and cooks it at Hot Water Beach using a ziplock bag with mānuka, lemon, salt, and pepper.She then learns barbecue secrets from Shaun and Alia Branson of Black Label Barbecue, including reverse searing a t-bone steak with black rub and chimichurri.Finally, Nomura teams up with Kaya Sparke from FTP Vegan Eats to create vegan burgers and iced doughnuts for the show.Magnetic Pictures Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve and Mud Spa Eastern Fish and Game Arash AlaeiniaClick here for the amazing Rotorua episode:https://lnkd.in/grRqbgHu

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