This Thursday is Anzac Day.
The day is a public holiday in New Zealand and Australia to commemorate New Zealand and Australian military personnel who have lost their lives in war, conflict and peacekeeping operations.
On that day, early morning memorial ceremonies are held across the country to pay tribute to veterans.
Most shops are closed on this day, but many will reopen in the afternoon.
On Anzac Day restricted business days, shops can be open for business in three situations. The first is the businesses that are listed as essential or permitted to operate (convenience stores, petrol stations, pharmacies, restaurants, cafes, barbershops and hairdressers);
As a result, business conditions vary across the country on the same day.
01
Auckland's North Shore opens new Skywalk
A brand new 60-metre-long, 18-metre-high skywalk recently opened to the public at Kauri Glen Reserve near Northcote, Auckland.
The skywalk and wooden bridge crosses a steep ravine, allowing visitors to see the Kauri trees in mid-air for the first time.
The 18-metre-high Skywalk transforms the park's experience, giving visitors a glimpse into the canopy world and admiring these unique and fragile ancient tree species.
Auckland's Kauri Glen Reserve is home to a number of corrie trees, with one area having a high density of correlin.
Some trees are between 300 and 400 years old.
The trail project is an integral part of the Te Ara Awataha Greenway project to strike a balance between the conservation of Kaurrymu and the recreation of citizens.
New Zealand's korui wood is susceptible to blight and needs protection. The bridge design of the Skywalk ensures that everyone is able to pass while helping to prevent the spread of Korui tree blight.
After the development of Northcote in the 50s of the last century, some of the original streams were buried to build roads and houses. As a result, these stream paths tend to recur after heavy rains, causing flooding.
The current Te Ara Awataha Greenway project restores some of the original landscape and reduces waterlogging.
At noon on Sunday (April 28), the official opening ceremony of the Skywalk will be held to celebrate the completion of this green project.
02
China Southern Airlines signs strategic agreement in Auckland
In an effort to attract more high-end Chinese business travellers, Auckland City Council's Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Auckland Airport and China Southern Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday to work together to make Auckland an ideal destination for Chinese business travellers, particularly for the MICE market.
Auckland City Council, Auckland Airport and China Southern signed a tripartite contract
Since the opening of the border, 210,000 Chinese tourists have entered New Zealand, of which about 13,000 have been for business, conferences or exhibitions, and the Chinese business tourism market in New Zealand has recovered to 65% of pre-pandemic levels.
Scott Tasker, Director of Customer Service at Auckland Airport, said the partnership aims to further enhance Auckland's appeal to Chinese business travellers through China Southern's direct flights from its Guangzhou hub.
The number of hotel rooms in Auckland has grown by 23% since 2019 and is expected to reach around 17,000 by 2024.
The opening of the New Zealand International Convention Centre next year will accommodate up to 3,150 attendees and will greatly enhance Auckland's ability to host large conferences.
The main intention of this agreement is to promote Auckland's business meetings, exhibitions and incentives to China.
The three parties agreed to work together to make Auckland an ideal destination for meetings, exhibitions and employee incentive trips for Chinese companies.
China Southern Airlines is the first airline to launch a regular passenger route between Chinese mainland and Auckland, having carried 2.53 million passengers between the two places since its launch on April 9, 2011.
03
The decline in the number of tower cranes reflects the plight of the construction industry
The number of tower cranes across New Zealand continues to decline, reflecting the difficulties faced by the construction industry.
According to a study by quantity surveying firm Rider Levett Bucknall, the number of permanently fixed cranes hit a record high of 157 early last year, but by September that number had dropped to 144.
Now the numbers continue to slide. By the end of March this year, only 139 tower cranes were in operation across the country, down about 11% from the first quarter of last year.
"The decline in the number of tower cranes underscores the continued pressure on New Zealand's residential market, with a significant decline in residential construction activity, particularly multi-storey residential construction. ”
The Auckland area fell from 90 units at the beginning of last year to 79 units in the first quarter of this year, a drop of 12%.
Nationally, the number of tower cranes on residential sites has declined the fastest.
The overall number of building permits in Auckland also reflects a slowdown in activity, with overall permits falling by 14% in 2023. Residential permits fell by 18.2 per cent and non-residential licences by 3.9 per cent. The numbers bode well for fewer construction projects in the future.
04
New Zealand-Antarctic tourist route opened
From next year, there will be new ways to travel from New Zealand to Antarctica.
Australian cruise line Aurora Expeditions will include Dunedin in its port of departure.
In the 2025-26 Antarctic season, the company will depart from New Zealand and Australia for the first time.
Three of the 32 sailings in the next season will depart from Dunedin to Antarctica, and another from Hobart (a new port of departure) will also stop at Dunedin.
Aurora described the 34-day voyage as "a journey that only one of the few people on earth can experience."
The ship will depart from Dunedin, pass through the Subantarctic Islands and the Ross Sea to the Antarctic Peninsula, and then cross the Drake Strait to Ushuaia, Argentina.