The Conversation, Author at Sightseers' Delight

Tourist trap: why charging entry fees at iconic NZ natural attractions could have hidden costs

September 2, 2025 The Conversation

Recent calls from sections of the tourism industry to cut the international visitor levy (IVL) risk undermining one of the few bright spots in current government policies shaping the sector.

Devastating landslides have hit Milford Sound in the past – if it happened today, the impact would dwarf Whakaari/White Island

March 18, 2025 The Conversation

The 2019 volcanic explosion on Whakaari/White Island, which killed 22 people touring the crater and severely injured 25, is one of New Zealand’s worst disasters. But an even more devastating catastrophe could happen at one of New Zealand’s most iconic tourism destinations, Piopiotahi/Milford Sound. And it is unclear how this disaster can be prevented.

Trump gets an ‘unconditional discharge’ in hush money conviction − a constitutional law expert explains what that means

January 10, 2025 The Conversation

But, of course, this is not your ordinary criminal case.

Notre Dame reopens in Paris 5 years after fire – its reconstruction preserves the past and illuminates France’s modern ambitions

December 4, 2024 The Conversation

Parisians navigating the narrow streets of the 4th arrondissement in recent days may have heard a familiar, yet nearly forgotten, sound. The bells of Notre Dame Cathedral have been ringing again after nearly five years, in preparation for the famed building’s long-awaited reopening.

What the Notre Dame restoration says about France’s past – and its future

December 3, 2024 The Conversation

Visitors rediscovering Paris’s Notre Dame cathedral when it reopens this weekend will be stepping into a highly charged conversation about France’s past and its future. Both sacred and secular, the cathedral tellingly illustrates the conflict between tradition and reform in France, as a historically Catholic and imperial power tries to adapt to its multicultural and postcolonial present.

Welcome to NZ – now pay up: the risks and rewards of raising the foreign tourist tax

June 18, 2024 The Conversation

What should visiting Aotearoa New Zealand cost your average tourist? The government has suggested raising the price of admission – otherwise known as the international visitor conservation and tourism levy (IVL) – from NZ$35 to $100.

QANTAS has finally settled its ‘ghost flights’ lawsuit for $120 million. What’s next?

May 7, 2024 The Conversation

Last August, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched legal proceedings against Qantas. The consumer watchdog accused the airline of selling thousands of tickets for domestic and international flights that had already been cancelled. On Monday, both parties reached a settlement, avoiding a drawn out battle in court.

Rugby stadiums are sold as an economic asset – but NZ needs to ask if they’re really worth it

April 23, 2024 The Conversation

A multi-billion dollar stadium precinct has been proposed for Auckland, one of three proposals in front of Auckland Council for a new stadium in the city. The council is also considering revamping Eden Park. But is a new stadium really value for money for Auckland ratepayers?