Cruise ship Tasman boom pushing NZ business

P & O's Pacific Jewel in port in Auckland. Photo / NZPA

A bumper cruise ship summer for the New Zealand economy is well underway, with the latest arrival - the 70,000 tonne Pacific Jewel - showing more than a hint of trans-Tasman identity.

Only New Zealand and Australian wine on board, there's collection boxed for the Pike River mine victim's families and tonnes of local produce is being loaded up at each stop.

With 1829 passengers on board, looked after by 730 crew, the Pacific Jewel is part of a new, more locally focused cruising industry.

Cruise line operator Carnival Australia says that during the next six months, 14 ships from its cruise lines' fleets would make 239 calls at nine ports and carry more than 82,000 passengers - a 35 per cent rise on the previous season.

And each ship arriving here is loaded up with tonnes of fresh New Zealand food and drink - partly due to a marketing approach of making the cruise a bit more authentically New Zealand, but also due to quarantine rules.

A report prepared for the Ministry of Economic Development, Cruise New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand earlier this year showed passenger numbers were expected to grow dramatically during the next two years from about 109,951 in this year to 138,200 in 2010/11 and then 199,900 during the 2011/12 season.

The cruise industry is forecast to inject $223 million into the economy during 2010/11, which was expected to rise to $346 million during the following season.

Carnival Australia represented P&O Cruises, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises UK in New Zealand.

Each ship visit, says Carnival, generates around $500,000 in crew and passenger spending, port fees and providering.

But the bigger rewards come from the increasing number of "turnaround calls" - where new passengers embark. Such calls, where the ship is reloaded and sets sail again within a few hours are worth up to $1 million for the local economy.

There are 14 of these turnarounds scheduled for Auckland during the current cruise season, with the first 'superliner' to be based here - the Pacific Pearl - arriving later this month.

More than 80 per cent of the passengers due to board the Pacific Pearl are New Zealanders, with local interest growing to such a point that a bigger, better ship can be based here for a season.

Auckland is set to be the busiest port with 43 visits by 14 ships - a 25 per cent jump.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown said recently he wanted to make an immediate start to build a cruise ship terminal on Captain Cook Wharf costing up to $200 million.

"I want to see a cruise ship terminal now," said Brown.

Waterfront agency chairman Bob Harvey said last month a cruise ship terminal was vital for the local and national economy. A number of options were being evaluated for the masterplanning exercise, he said.

The mayor, however, faces an uphill battle convincing Ports of Auckland to relinquish Captain Cook Wharf, currently used to unload car- transporting ships.