Cruise ship as seen from the Treaty Grounds. PHOTO / Waitangi National Trust
The Bay of Islands is reaping a cruise ship bonanza this week with seven ships visiting in as many days, delivering a human tsunami of close to 9000 passengers and more than 4000 crew members.
With each passenger spending an estimated $150 a day, the visitors will pump about $1.3 million into the Bay of Islands economy this week alone.
In total the 2013-14 cruise ship season is expected to bring 44 ships and more than 73,000 passengers - a 35 per cent increase on last season and the highest number since the record-breaking 80,000 passengers of Rugby World Cup year.
While the ships are so far bypassing Whangarei, a tourism leader says a new generation of vessels too big for the Bay could allow the city to cash in on the growing cruise market in future.
The invasion started on Saturday with the Pacific Pearl, carrying 1817 mainly Australian passengers and 514 crew, and ends on Friday with luxury liner Queen Victoria's 2014 mostly British passengers and 1001 crew.
Monday was especially busy with the Sea Princess (1950 passengers) jostling for space with Black Watch (803 passengers). Sunday's German visitor, Hanseatic, carried just 184 passengers but made up in luxury what it lacked in size.
Michelle Ackers, marketing manager for Paihia helicopter firm Salt Air, said this week's influx was ''a big bonus''. On Saturday the company had flown 14 scenic trips and on Monday another 13.
Rex Wilson, owner of souvenir shop Gold 'n Gifts, said Paihia was full of people but whether they were spending a lot of money was another story. Saturday, for example, was a good day for business but Monday was ''very average'' despite the cruise ship double-up. However, the town would benefit long-term if just 5 or 10 per cent enjoyed their visit enough to come back at a later date, he said.
Part of the Bay's success lies in its Business Paihia-funded ambassador scheme. Organiser Anika West said the ambassadors, recognisable by their T-shirts, greeted arriving passengers, directed them to free shuttle buses, handed out maps and offered unbiased advice.
Paihia was also the only port in the country which held a meeting every winter allowing cruise ship companies to give feedback and make requests for the coming season.
As a result the Bay had gone from the bottom of New Zealand's port rankings to second in the past five years, as judged by Cruise NZ.
During ship visits Paihia's Community Patrol operates a lollipop crossing to prevent traffic congestion around the wharf and a craft market is held on the Village Green.
Tourism leader Jeroen Jongejans said the growing cruise ship market also created opportunities for Whangarei.
Once widening of the Panama Canal was complete New Zealand could expect ever large ships, but their size meant taking passengers to shore by tender was impractical. Instead they needed a deep-water wharf.
Whangarei had a suitable wharf, a supportive port company, fuel storage facilities and plenty of attractions. All it needed was a point of difference such as the Hundertwasser centre, Mr Jongejans said.
It would not be a case of taking ships away from the Bay because cruise companies were looking for extra places to stop. A stay in Whangarei could also mean more time in Paihia for Auckland-bound ships, because they would not have to leave in the early afternoon to reach their destination on time.
Whangarei's cruise ship industry could be as big as Tauranga's, which was worth $35 million a year, he said.
This week's ships
Saturday: Pacific Pearl (1817 passengers/514 crew); Sunday: Hanseatic (184/122); Monday: Sun Princess (1950/900) and Black Watch (803/330); Tuesday: Ocean Princess (688/373); Thursday: Marina (1258/800); and Friday: Queen Victoria (2014/1001). The 2013-14 cruise ship season, which ends on April 15, is expected to bring 44 ships, 73,336 passengers and 32,695 crew.