Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
exciting cities, and was named by Lonely Planet as one of the world's top 10 cities in
Best
in Travel 2013
. On the North Island, the country's economic hub of Auckland was named
one of the world's must-visit cities in
Best in Travel 2014,
and is rapidly emerging as the
country's only truly international city.
Around one in three New Zealanders now lives in Auckland, and through immigration
and better employment opportunities the city is growing faster than the provinces. Hous-
ing prices continue to outstrip the rest of the country, and important decisions need to be
taken regarding public transport, housing density and urban sprawl. Significant invest-
ment in the hospitality industry has boosted new restaurant precincts, and finally the city
is showcasing its stunning waterfront location on the Hauraki Gulf.
At the opposite end of the North Island, Wellington maintains its reputation as one of
the world's coolest and more interesting capital cities, channelling Portland and San Fran-
cisco in its laid-back combination of coffee, craft beer and heritage wooden housing in
hilly central suburbs.
Reasons to be Cheerful
Christchurch's recovery and rebuild is still a major preoccupation across NZ, producing
good news and bad stories in equal measure. On one hand it is testing relationships
between the citizens and government agencies, as tough decisions are made about fix-ups
and pay-outs. On the other, the city's recovery reinforces Kiwis' perceptions of them-
selves as 'battlers' with strong communities and civic pride.
New Zealanders have little difficulty in finding something to feel proud about. While
the All Blacks remain a foundation - not only for their sporting achievements but as fig-
ureheads for 'brand NZ' - the depth of Kiwi talent ranges far beyond the rugby pitch. Fol-
lowing the All Blacks' success at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, this featherweight country
punched well above its weight at the 2012 London Olympics. Claiming six gold medals,
Team NZ gave traditional rival and sporting giant Australia a run for its money as it only
managed to win one more. Other Kiwi sporting stars making their mark around the globe
include young golfing sensation Lydia Ko, NBA rookie Steve Adams, IndyCar speedster
Scott Dixon, and Valerie Adams, the greatest female shot putter the world has ever seen.
While Sir Peter Jackson holds his position as a heavyweight in cinema with his block-
busting adaptations of
The Hobbit,
another major player has thrown his hat into the ring.
Canadian director James Cameron has set up a rural home base near Wellington and will
