Conference Programme 2008


Shantytown, West Coast, New Zealand
12 to 14 August 2008


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DAY 1 - TUESDAY 12 AUGUST 2008

8.30-9.00

9.00-9.45

Powhiri

Conference Registration
MORNING TEA

9.45-10.00

CONFERENCE OPENING
Opening Address Hon. Damien O'Connor Minister of Tourism

10.00-11.00

KEYNOTE SPEAKER 
John Anderson Contiki founder 
Vision for tourism in New Zealand
 

11.00-11.30

COFFEE BREAK

11.30-12.30

DISCUSSION - ECOTOURISM CERTIFICATION
Discuss ecotourism certification requirements at a national, regional and local level.  Look into schemes that could suit your business.

FACILITATOR
Dame Cheryll Sotheran New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

PANEL MEMBERS
John Barrett Kapiti Island Alive
Stephen Pahl Ecotourism Australia
Geoff Penrose,Qualmark
Mark Walter Ministry of Tourism
Craig Wilson Quality Tourism
 

12.30-1.30

DISCUSSION - ECOTOURISM AND THE CONSERVATION ESTATE
How can you to ensure the future of your concession and your business?  Develop methods to collectively engage with DoC on issues that impact your business.

FACILITATOR
Anna Thompson University of Otago

PANEL MEMBERS
Geoff Ensor TIANZ
Matt Lysaght Kea Tours
Gavin Walker Department of Conservation
Mark Walter Ministry of Tourism
 

1.30-2.30

LUNCH

 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
(These sessions will be repeated on Day 3 to enable attendance)

2.30-3.30
(Break)
4.00-5.00

The Internet and Business Yield
Examine the growth and impact of internet bookings. How are your customers using the internet? What can you do to attract online bookings?

SPEAKER
Lawrence Smith Cabbage Tree Creative

Increase your business’s profit
Look into ways to increase your business’s profits including pricing, extending products, product bundling, establishing partnerships, reducing costs and increasing direct bookings methods.

FACILITATOR
Hugh Canard Canard Consulting

SPEAKERS
Dame Cheryll Sotheran New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
Craig Wilson Quality Tourism Development
Case Study: Encounter Kaikoura
 

  ECOSYSTEMS
(These sessions will be repeated on Day 3 to enable attendance)
2.30-3.30
(Break)
4.00-5.00

Monitoring Ecosystems
Learn how to implement a system for monitoring 
the environment you work in.

FACILITATOR
Anna Thompson University of Otago

SPEAKERS
Phil Knightbridge Department of Conservation
Rebecca Gibson Department of Conservation
Case Study: White Heron Sanctuary Tours
 

  SUSTAINABILITY
(These sessions will be repeated on Day 3 to enable attendance)
2.30-3.30
(Break)
4.00-5.00

Sustainability in practice - A practical guide.
Create a plan for implementing sustainability into your business.  Learn about the quick wins that will make a difference with your customers and sustainability programmes such as Carbon Zero and Qualmark's new sustainability criteria and toolkit.

FACILITATOR
Mark Walter Ministry of Tourism

SPEAKERS
Chris North University of Canterbury
Nicola Smith Qualmark
Kathryn Hailes CarboNZero programme - Landcare Research
Eric Park Ministry for the Environment
Case Study: Real Journeys
Case Study: @ Home in the Hills
 

5.30

DRINKS

6.00-7.30

PRE-DINNER SPEAKER
Story-telling and the art of Maori Cuisine. 
Charles will share his story of introducing indigenous cooking to tourists in New Zealand and taking Maori food to the world.  Delegates will also get the chance to taste some of his contemporary Maori cuisine.

Charles Royal owner and operator of Maori Food Tours
 

7.30

DINNER

   
 

DAY 2 - WEDNESDAY 13 AUGUST 2008

8.00-8.30

Housekeeping

  CULTURE AND STORYTELLING
8.30-10.00

Rural Maori tourism research
A four-year research project investigating the issues facing rural Maori tourism has just been completed. The project's leaders will present their findings and discuss key outcomes.

This session will also include workshop activities and discussion about developing a rural tourism network/region and the demand for Maori ecocultural tourism.

FACILITATOR
Anna Thompson University of Otago

SPEAKERS
Jo Doherty Kitea Developments and Te Urewera Treks
Chris Horn Landcare Research
Helen Fitt Landcare Research
 

10.00-10.30

MORNING TEA

10.30-12.00

Telling the Whole Story
Gain a better understanding of protocols and the process of storytelling.  Hear about combining indigenous stories with our natural science history to give tourists an enhanced experience.

FACILITATOR
Brian MacKenzie, Ecotourism NZ Chair

SPEAKERS
John Barrett owner & operator of Kapiti Island & Chairman of Maori Tourism Council
George Gibbs Senior Research Associate School of Biological Sciences Victoria University
 

12.00-12.30

LUNCH

12.30-6.00

FIELDTRIPS (trip time with return transport to Greymouth)
Woods Creek - Guided Walk (2 hrs)
Point Elizabeth - Guided Walk (3 hrs)
Lake Mahinapua - Kayaking (5 hrs)
Arahura - Guided Walk (3 hrs)
Arnold River - Rafting (5 hrs)
Charleston - Argyle Track (6 hrs)
Charleston Walkway - Guided Walk (6 hrs)

4.30-6.30

Greymouth – Ashley Hotel
Ministry of Economic Development Workshop

Start, manage and grow your business
Case studies of business people who solved their business problems with help from government agencies.
 

5.00-7.00

Tours of Monteiths Brewery - 60 max (3 tours, 30 mins each)

7.00

DINNER and pub quiz
Paroa Hotel

   
 

DAY 3 - THURSDAY 14 AUGUST 2008

8.30

Housekeeping

 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
(Another chance to attend sessions missed)

8.30-10.30

The Internet and Business Yield
Examine the growth and impact of internet bookings. How are your customers using the internet? What can you do to attract online bookings?

Lawrence Smith Cabbage Tree Creative

Increase your business’s profit
Look into ways to increase your business’s profits including pricing, extending products, product bundling, establishing partnerships, reducing costs and increasing direct bookings methods.

FACILITATOR
Geoff Ensor TIANZ

SPEAKERS
Dame Cheryll Sotheran New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
Craig Wilson Quality Tourism Development
Case Study: Encounter Kaikoura
 

  ECOSYSTEMS
8.30-10.30

Monitoring Ecosystems
Learn how to implement a system for monitoring 
the environment you work in.

FACILITATOR
Hugh Canard Canard Consulting

SPEAKERS
Phil Knightbridge Department of Conservation
Rebecca Gibson Department of Conservation
Case Study: White Heron Sanctuary Tours
 

  SUSTAINABILITY
8.30-10.30

Sustainability in practice - A practical guide.
Create a plan for implementing sustainability into your business.  Learn about the quick wins that will make a difference with your customers and sustainability programmes such as Carbon Zero and Qualmark's new sustainability criteria and toolkit.

FACILITATOR
Anna Thompson University of Otago

SPEAKERS
Chris North University of Canterbury
Kathryn Hailes CarboNZero programme - Landcare Research
Eric Park Ministry for the Environment
Case Study: Real Journeys
Case Study: @ Home in the Hills
 

10.30-11.00

MORNING TEA

11.00-1.00 

CONFERENCE OUTCOMES

PANEL DISCUSSIONS and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WORKHOPS

FACILITATOR
Brian MacKenzie Ecotourism NZ Chair

PANEL MEMBERS
Geoff Ensor TIANZ
Hugh Canard Canard Consulting
Jo Doherty Te Urewera Treks
Anna Thompson University of Otago
John Barrett Kapiti Island Alive
 

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

CERTIFICATION - key discussion points
Industry actions for certification

THE CONSERVATION ESTATE - key discussion points
What are the next steps for the industry?

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
ISSUES AND OUTCOMES

Internet and Business Yield
Ecosystems
Sustainability
Culture and Storytelling
Feedback from operator discussions
What actions should the industry take?

 

 

CONFERENCE CLOSING

1.00-2.00

LUNCH

Tai Poutini Polytechnic
Private Bag 607
Greymouth, New Zealand
Freephone: 0800 800 411
Ecotourism NZ Conference, 1st-3rd August 2007, Conference Outcomes