North tourism makes its mark

Dive! Tutukaka's Jeroen Jongejans is a finalist in the tourism industry champion category.

Northland has produced five finalists in 10 categories in the 2015 Tourism Industry Awards (TIA) and this spoke volumes for the quality and growing success of the industry in the region, according to Northland Inc general manager regional promotions Paul Davis.

A total of 34 finalists from 100 entries for eight business and two individual awards were announced last week, after a hiatus of five years.

Dive! Tutukaka's Jeroen Jongejans is a finalist in the tourism industry champion category, while the company is a finalist for the business excellence (annual turnover less than $6 million) and environmental tourism awards. Sarah Greener (The Rock Adventure Cruise, Paihia), is a finalist for the emerging tourism leader award, and the Bay of Islands Destination Marketing Group is a finalist in the industry alignment category.

Mr Davis said Northland Inc - the region's RTO and economic development agency - wished to congratulate all the region's finalists.

"Their selection in half the categories on offer are a fair reflection of progress and growth of quality tourism ventures in Northland, and this is a big positive for the region," he said.

Sarah Greener said she was "chuffed and extremely humbled."

"To be one of the finalists representing any of the inspirational tourism companies throughout New Zealand is a huge thing," she said.

"It is particularly pleasing though to see so many finalists from Northland. It shows the strength of tourism in the North."

Kate Malcolm, co-owner of Dive! Tutukaka, was surprised but delighted, and said there were some fantastic small businesses in the smaller regions, and Tourism 2025 was a framework that easily translated to grass roots actions.

"The passion of my team just shines," she said.

"The fact that Tutukaka is up there with the big guns is a reflection on how awesome my team are, and how amazing our destination is. We are humbled but proud, and very excited to share this with our local community."

The awards will be presented at a black-tie dinner in Auckland on October 2. The winner of the Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Industry Award will receive international air travel to any Air New Zealand destination in North America, South America or Asia, valued at up to $10,000, to help them grow their tourism business.