NewsZine

October 1999

The independent NewsZine for the modern ecotraveller.

New Zealand travel tips and information

Evan " I know I'm a ski bum " Bloomfield

So where have you been Evan?

And hasn't that been a long time then. I bet you all wondered what happened. Welllll if you know me then you probably knew and if you are signed up for our Snow Reports then you do know but for neither of those above here's the truth .... I'm a ski bum.

Paint a mountain white and I just have to get up there. Simple. Trouble is I never seem to get enough.

So to all of you out there that emailed asking what's happened to KiwiNewZ to be met with "soon" or "next week" Sorry for the wait. And here we are. Back again for your monthly digest of New Zealand travel tips and information with a Southern New Zealand bend.

>=================== Wots in this issue?

Heaps to catch up on including the America's Cup in Auckland,win a Free Kiwi Keyring, air points are us - guide to frequent flyers free flights, guide to walking the Milford Tack unguided, Y2K Whisky Heritage Tour, Stewart Island National Park, Mt Bruce Wildlife recovery report, cheap flights from the US to NZ.

>=================== The Americas Cup

It's inevitable and it's big - The Americas Cup has come to the City of Sails, Auckland that is. The three courses are set in the wonderful Hauraki Gulf bordered by the North Shore, one of Auckland's extinct volcanoes Rangitoto and the Whangaparoa Harbour. Heaps of big boats, screams of "Starboard" and lots of salty sea dogs.

Poor old Black Magic has to skulk around the outside and play with itself until February.

The America's Cup Challenger Series or Louis Vuitton Cup runs from 18 October 1999 to 5 February 2000. Here's the schedule.

Round Robin 1 - Oct. 18-31, 1999
Every challenger races two different syndicates on a short course.
( One point for each win )

Round Robin 2 - Nov. 6-19, 1999
Each challenger races one other syndicate every day on an America's Cup course.
( Four points for each win )

Round Robin 3 - Dec. 2-13, 1999
Each challenger races one other syndicate every day on an America's Cup course.
( Nine points for each win )

Semi Finals - Jan. 2-21, 2000
Top 6 challengers. Clean score sheet. Each challenger meets each of the others 3 times.
( One point for each win )

Finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup - Jan. 25-Feb. 5, 2000
Top two semi finalists participate in a best of 9 series.

And that's when we get in to the serious side of stuff! The proud Kiwi's defend the auld mug and hope to create history and stamp the name "City of Sails" firmly in America's Cup history.

Rounds Robin 1 has just been completed with Prada from Italy top of the points followed closely by Young America and America One. These three are expected to make the semi finals easily with a scrap for the last three places amongst America True, Nippon, the Spanish, Stars and Stripes and Abracadabra.

America's Cup - February 19 - March 4
The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup Races the America's Cup defender - Team New Zealand, in a best of 9 series.

So if you happen to be in Auckland during the cup get on down to the Viaduct Basin or on top of Rangitoto and check out some serious sailing machines. Next issue we will tell you about being a virtual spectator!

>=================== Win a Free kiwi keyring

Wanna win a free kiwi keyring? Well you can right here. All we ask is that you recommend two or more friends or colleagues that you think may like to receive our NewsZine and you will go in the draw.

To be in to win, click here.

>=================== Milford Track Unguided or Independent

Well a few of the favourite tracks in Fiordland National Park are starting to get a bit of pre season traffic as the serious walkers get in while the huts are cheap and not too many people are around.

Thinking of walking the Milford Track unguided? Well we have put together a nice little auto responder with some tips and hints on this fab walk. All you need to do is click here.

So you ask "Wot's an auto responder?" Well it is a FREE service that automatically sends you an email when you send an email to a particular address. In the example above you send an email to milfordtrackunguided@KiwiNewZ.com - easy aye!

And no sorry we haven't done one for the Routeburn ( working on it ) but if you are in to autoresponders and exploring New Zealand we have another one all about a great traverse of Stewart Island. To retrieve it to your mailbox just click here.

>=================== Airpoints are us

Here's a hint from a recent UK traveller.

"I got an Ansett g'day pass when I came over - booked two flights when in the UK and booked the other 8 when I came over here. The only thing I regret is not getting an Ansett frequent flyer card as I would have had enough frequent flyer points to get another free flight."

Well I am afraid to say that Ansett New Zealand have not been the airline of choice lately with a serious industrial dispute and chaos in their schedules. Needless to say the multi leg passes can be a good option. Good point about the frequent flyer card as well. New Zealand is long haul so you can rack up those mileage credits pretty quick and fly for free!

Air New Zealand have the Explore New Zealand Airpass. This pass requires a minimum of 3 one way flights and starts off at NZ$515 and goes up for each additional flight. This ticket must be purchased outside of New Zealand, and must be accompanied with an international ticket to New Zealand.Sorry you cant "buy" any more sectors when you come to New Zealand and no you can't but it on the net :(

With both Air New Zealand and Ansett New Zealand points accumulate on domestic flights. Air New Zealand is a member of the Star Alliance so you can interchange points with all their partners and don't forget those frequent flyer points from your credit cards.

Call Air NZ in the US at 1-800-262-1234 for more information.

>=================== Y2K Whisky Heritage Tour

Stewart Island has it's very own, part-time Fluid Druid. Those who have met him will know immediately that it could only be Sam Sampson. Orator, stirrer, web master. And now he's a fluid druid.

In late Feb 1998, a three-man crew of Viking Gringos, from NRK TV, descended on Stewart Island, and filmed furiously for four days. When they departed, the Fluid Druid presented them with his sacred "Magic Potion Flask", so it could imbibe the spirit, and heritage of far-off northern lands.

The Fluid Druid has now decreed it is time for the sacred Flask to prepare to wend it's way from Norway to New Zealand. Y2K Yes, this is a mini-millenium project. The sacred Flask will travel Northern Lands from Aug-Dec 1999.

The Fluid Druid says "I'd love to do this tour myself, but wouldn't survive. I'd get sidetracked somewhere, or, be so socially excited at one of the distilleries, that I'd fall into a vat, and drown, trying to drink my way out."

"The bottle" departs from..... Stavanger - Mum's Grandad was born there, Lerwick, Fair Isle, Orkney, John o' Groats the northernmost port of the UK, and, on South, through...... Scotland Edinburgh - where Dad's Mum was born ..... Oban - after which "City" our township on Stewart Island was named.

Then to North England - where it will meet Jaf, (John A Fotheringham - for long) - and south via devious "heritage" means, to...... Dorset - where "Peter the Porter" lives. He's a descendant of Lewis Acker, first Pakeha settler in Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island. He's daring to fly though Y2K, just to get "the bottle" back to the Fluid Druid.

Seriously.... only on Stewart Island. Check out the fluid druid and "the bottle" have a beer at the local pub or check out Sams own Stewart Island page.

>=================== Stewart Island National Park

Public discussion on whether Stewart Island should be granted National Park status is well under way.

About 93% or 163,000 hectares of Stewart Island is being considered. Now at the same time the government has just reached settlement with the Rakiura Maori Land Trust in a NZ$10.9 million deal to protect the Lords River Block which is 3 661 hectares of virgin native bush. So you can see the conservation value the government places on the Island. Cool.

The Lords River block is to be included in the proposed National Park and will be called Tutae Ka Wetoweto. Now that's way cool. Anyone tranlsate that?

While we are talking about it the inevitable seems to be happening and the papers are being drawn up for Stewart Island to become New Zealand's 13th National Park. Public meetings and other meetings, dicsussions and white papers, reports and submissions. And at the end of it all the minister decides. Now which minister is still an unknown ....

>=================== Sign our Guestbook

PLEASE: WHILE YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT, forward this issue right now to two of your friends. They'll thank you. So will I.

Like to go on line and sign our guestbook? Check it out here;
http://www.KiwiNewZ.com/html/guestbook.mv?view

>=================== Mt Bruce report

Heres a report from Ranger Doug of the Mt Bruce

"The Kaka programme was a world first with getting hand reared parrots, releasing them back into the wild and they then produce wild chicks."

"We got 6 fledged chicks from last season, one died from a freak accident involving one of the enclosures; and "rata" we lost just a few days ago, killed by a stoat, we only found what was left of her, feathers and legs. Both these chicks were Yakka's babies. Cleo and her two chicks are still doing well with "tawa" begging food from our kitchen window every night. I shouldn't feed her but I can not resist giving her a few goodies."

"The release of the 12 Campbell Island Teal onto Codfish Island in March. The first ever release from a captive management stock of this rearest duck in the world. All are doing well without any losses."

>=================== Flying from the US to NZ

If you are in US and planning a trip to NZ or if you have friends in the US coming down this way then perk up your ears.

Air New Zealand has announced a super deal for return flights from Los Angeles to Fiji ( US$599 ), non-stop to Auckland for ( US$699 ) and non-stop to Sydney ( US$799 ). Now I always recommend a few days in Fiji on the way home so you may wish to add a stop but these prices are some of the best I've seen.

Travel must commence between April 17 and August 23, 2000, and must be completed by Sept. 21, 2000. Tickets must be purchased before November 30, 1999. Minimum stay is 7 days and the maximum stay is 30 days.

Air New Zealand is a member of the Star Alliance so you can earn mileage credits on other airlines frequent flier programs including United MileagePlus. For reservations and additional information, contact Air New Zealand at www.airnz.com or in the US at 800-262-1234.

And you know it soon after Air New Zealand announced this sale QANTAS followed suit!

Dont forget the usual fine print like taxes may not be included; may not be refunable though ticket can be applied to a higher priced ticket - take out your own insurance at the time of purchase ...... Oh I love the fine print.

>=================== Back Issues

Last month we talked about;

domestic NZ flights
Milford Track
Stewart Island National Park
patagonian toothfish
Kakapo
Cruise ships

Click here to go to the index for our previous issues online.

>=================== That's all folks

Thanks for joining us and see ya next month. Remember we live on feedback, suggestions, requests, comments etc. We try to answer every one personally. Just email us.

This newszine is assembled from our own observations and reports from others and while every effort is made to get it right we can not attest to the accuracy or otherwise. Happy tripping. If you like what you read please forward this on to your friends ( reduce, re use, re cycle ). If you are reading someone else's and you like what we offer, please subscribe! It's easy and free. Just click here.

>=================== Unsubscribe Information

To unsubscribe send any message to <mailto:nothanks@KiwiNewZ.com>.

Evan and Jane Bloomfield
Queenstown
AOTEAROA
fx +64 3 442 8342
E-mail: evan@KiwiNewZ.com