Auckland city's tourism and economic development body is hoping for a big return from a major conference for travel industry leaders from around the world.

With more than 1.1 million passenger days spent in New Zealand, the country's ports have survived the biggest cruise season on record - but only just.

A national appeal to help a cash strapped government department will get underway today.

A tourist industry group is worried about the impact of cuts at the Department of Conservation while another organisation says more charging for visitors is inevitable.

A Government-commissioned report into the booming Chinese tourism market finds visa processes should be streamlined to encourage travel by "low risk" high-spending visitors.

Like many, I have the occasional dream in which I've arrived somewhere - usually on a form of public transport - stark naked.

Air New Zealand has announced it will be getting rid of standby fares and says the move is driven by customer demand.

Increasing the price of using national parks has been ruled out by the Department of Conservation as a way of making money.

Auckland hotels have had a year of steady trading with leisure, corporate and conference business returning to normal patterns following Rugby World Cup in 2011.

Air Pacific's first new Airbus A330 touched down on home soil today carrying the refreshed 'Fiji Airways' branding.

The one thing that stood out to me is the sheer number of tourists that Waiheke pumps through each day, especially over summer, writes Dita De Boni.

Prime Minister John Key has backed away from statements to Parliament about SkyCity hatching a land deal with TVNZ.

TVNZ says it has had no approach from SkyCity to buy its land for the proposed convention centre, contrary to the Prime Minister's assurances yesterday.

Officials in one of Prime Minister John Key's departments disregarded Treasury advice to seek guidance in how to conduct SkyCity talks with honesty and integrity.

SkyCity asked for taxpayers to pay for the marketing and promotion of the international convention centre, but the Government ruled it out.

National's damage control strategy has been to try to paint Key's earlier contacts with SkyCity as perfectly normal, writes John Armstrong

SkyCity got special treatment in its pitch to build the international convention centre - but nothing which will get in the way of a formal deal being struck.

The world knows us not only as New Zealand, but also as Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud, Godzone, or - more recently - Middle-earth.