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UK travel tax could hit rugby cup crowds
– Thursday, 27 November 2008
A British move to increase the tax paid by airline passengers on flights to New Zealand could dampen an anticipated boost in tourist numbers during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The cup will be the biggest international sporting event to be held in New Zealand, with 60,000 to 70,000 international visitors expected to attend the matches.
However, the British Government is about to increase taxes on long-haul flights to help reduce the amount of carbon emissions from highly polluting jet aircraft.
England, Wales and Scotland are automatic qualifiers for the tournament, and organisers had expected the three teams to be accompanied by many fans.
With half of the World Cup visitors expected to come from Britain and Ireland, any possible disincentive to travel was a concern, Tourism Industry Association chief executive Tim Cossar said.
The duty on a flight to New Zealand will be $155 from next November, with a second increase to $240 in November 2010.
The tourism sector is worried the tax increase will hurt visitor numbers from Britain New Zealand's largest source of holidaymakers after Australia and is concerned other countries will follow Britain's move.
"It doesn't do anything to prime the market or send positive signals to the market," he said.
"We don't want to see our price competitiveness as a destination damaged," he said. . As a country, we have done a lot to try to be a responsible tourism destination.
"It seems to me they are always incentivising short-haul travel by penalising the long-haul markets."
Prime Minister John Key raised New Zealand's objections to the tax changes during his meeting in London with British PM Gordon Brown yesterday.
"We were given an award in Britain for responsible tourism.
"We just indicated we were concerned about it, we didn't think it was fair and we'd like to progress the issue further if we can," he said.
Key said he told Brown there were efficiency differences between airlines and aircraft, and some airlines, including Air New Zealand, were trialling biofuels.
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Kyah’s journey an inspiration for thousands
By GREER MACDONALD Friday, 21 November 2008
DEAN KOZANIC/
FOREVER REMEMBERED: Fundraising websites have gathered close toly $20,000 for the Child Cancer Foundation, in dedication to Kyah Milne. Her battle with cancer ended on Wednesday morning.
Kyah Milne may have drawn her last breath in her fight against cancer, but her battle has inspired thousands to dig deep to provide continuing support for others.
She died peacefully, with her parents and her much-loved stuffed toy "Giraffe" at her side, just over a week before her third birthday.
Fundraising websites have attracted close toly $20,000 of donations toward the Child Cancer Foundation in dedication to Kyah's battle, which ended in her parents' Johnsonville home on Wednesday morning.
Tributes have flowed from around the world to the online journal that was kept by her parents throughout the toddler's 505-day rule-breaking fight with the disease.
Kyah was found to have neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the adrenal glands, when she was 19 months old.
"She has gone to a place where she can run and play just like any other almost-three-year-old can, where she is surrounded by butterflies and Polly Pockets and where she is no longer in pain," her mother, Shanell Christian, wrote on the site.
"I guess that's just one of the ways that people can help, and that's fantastic – that's what we've always said through this journey, for people not to send gifts, just donate to child cancer or Ronald McDonald House.
Kyah's father, Jason Milne, told The yesterday that the many donations were "absolutely amazing".
Mr Milne said the support the family received from Christchurch and Wellington hospitals and from community nurses was "absolutely amazing", and that staff had become like family."
Donations can also be left at Kyah's funeral service, which begins at 1pm today at the Lychgate Chapel in Johnsonville.
Mr Milne said he hoped the entries would eventually be made into a book so that the couple's two other children, 12-year-old Kaleb and seven-year-old Jordan, would understand "how to treat people, and how people can band together". .
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Public photos may hold key in pack sex attack inquiry
By CLIO FRANCIS – Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Police investigating a possible pack rape are asking the public to send them any photos taken in Christchurch's Corsair Bay area last Sunday.
Police have begun an investigation into an alleged sexual violation, and want any photographs taken in the popular swimming area between 11am and 3pm on November 16.
"We're particularly interested in any activities around the raft," he said.
Up to half a dozen men, between the ages of 20 and 40, are sought, Detective Sergeant Ross Tarawhiti said."
He said Sunday was a "lovely day" and he imagined lots of photos would have been taken.
"The victim has met these people at the area and the assault has happened somewhere else.tarawhiti@police.
Anyone with photos is asked to email them to ross.nz , karen. .govt.simmons@police.nz or phone 03 344 0661.