Stories by Tess Brunton

Tourism leaders have welcomed the government's plans to be more active in the country's biggest export industry, but say it mustn't interfere with business.

The government will play a more active role in the future of tourism through its newly-unveiled vision.

Not enough young New Zealanders are being enticed into the tourism sector, according to industry leaders.

Tourism industry heads acknowledge that may be difficult to reach a new goal to become more sustainable by 2025.

New Zealand still has a long way to go to properly value Māori culture and language, tourism operators say.

Traffic congestion, littering and road accidents are what worry kiwis about tourism - but most are positive about it.

An Otago family is at the mercy of floods that sweep into their house every couple of years, unable to either renovate or sell and move out.

A former New Zealand Army major is helping to ramp up the security at mosques across the country, as Muslims prepare for the holiest month in their calendar.

The men who survived a helicopter crash in the subantarctic ocean have spoken about how they survived, saying their training kicked in seconds after the crash. Video

A bed tax is firming up as the best way of helping Queenstown cope with increasing pressure from tourists, the local mayor says, despite industry opposition.

A South Island mayor is questioning why ratepayers and taxpayers are footing the bill to clean up industrial waste.

The fight to save a Southland birthing centre has reached the 11th hour as the formal downgrade date edges closer.

Some West Coast businesses may go bust after the closure of the Waiho River Bridge caused an abrupt end to visits by tourists

Toxic materials are being found among the rubbish washing up along the West Coast after floodwaters spread it along the coastline from an abandoned landfill.

Muslim refugee families living in cold, damp conditions may face a warmer winter following offers of potential homes and donations.

An Iraqi refugee says his family has had to endure cold and damp living conditions in Dunedin because Immigration NZ did not give them enough information about the home they were moving into.

West Coast residents say floodwaters have washed away a lifeline for their community after torrential rain battered the coast for two days. Video

Some Muslim families haven't left their homes since the Christchurch terrorist attacks, so volunteers are creating food hampers and offering to drive around those who feel uncomfortable using public…

Residents at a Wanaka subdivision say they are being effectively gagged from having a say on what happens in their own backyard.

Some tourists may give Queenstown a second thought if a local visitor tax is imposed in the resort town.

A proposed special housing area in Queenstown is copping flak from the community who say the town cannot cope with the influx of more people.

Wanaka's housing market is booming and affordable housing is in high demand, so why are five out of 10 KiwiBuild homes sitting empty?

SPCA chief executive Andrea Midgen says the stabbing death of a miniature horse is one of worst cases of animal cruelty she has heard of.

An American woman is on the road to recovery after she was hit by a truck while riding a Lime e-scooter in Dunedin.

A tourism industry leader hopes politics won't get in the way of the rapidly growing Chinese tourism market.