Justin Tighe Umbers
Taking the long way to Northland with SH1 closure
Transport and tourism operators are bracing themselves for the imminent closure for repairs of State Highway One through the Brynderwyn Hills. Audio
Road transport industry hopes for funding in this year's Budget
Truckies are hoping for a big lift in road funding in this year's Budget.
Roading is likely to be a big ticket item in the Budget, given flood damage costs of up to $14.5billion, half of which will… Audio
Road Carriers Association wants new Waitematā Harbour crossing to be a tunnel
Trucking companies believe a tunnel is the best option for a second Auckland Harbour crossing.
The Government has revealed five options for another link to the North Shore and is promising… Audio
Trucking boss on impact of flood-damaged roads
There's a long list of roads that have been damaged in the flooding, including main highways.
It's creating headaches for businesses relying on the network. The National Road Carriers Association… Audio
Truckers urge new Prime Minister to get roads fixed
Fixing damaged roads should be a top priority for the incoming Prime Minister according to a freight industry group.
The National Road Carriers Association is pleased Chris Hipkins is going to focus… Video, Audio
New Plymouth man scores unofficial world record in speed golfing
A New Plymouth man has run away with the unofficial world record for speed golfing. And run he did - playing 311 holes of golf in a day which is more than 17 full rounds. Shanon Stallard teed off at… Video, Audio
Board of Airline Representatives welcomes border reopening
Aotearoa is ready to welcome back the world, but how are they going to get here.
The number of international carriers coming into the country has slimmed down considerably since Covid hit.
In… Video, Audio
Airline representatives urge certainty so NZ does not lose international routes
An airline industry group is calling on the government to relax managed isolation (MIQ) restrictions because it worries international airlines may give up on coming here at all. Video, Audio
Trans-Tasman bubble: tourism sector relief
The tourism industry is heaving a sign of relief with the prospect of the border opening with Australia in less than two weeks. Australians made up 40-percent of tourists in 2019, spending two billion… Audio
Another two-week wait for AUS-NZ travel bubble date
It will be another two weeks until the public will know when a trans-Tasman bubble will be put in place.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says there are a series of boxes to be ticked before an… Video, Audio
Air services 'hanging on by their fingernails'
Commercial air services hanging on by their fingernails are thankful the Government will continue supporting air freight.
The scheme, which started last May, has supported 6000 flights carrying $8… Audio
Covid-19: Tourism operators face another year of uncertainty
With a vaccine timeline of about a year, regional tourist operators are grappling with another year of uncertainty with some questioning whether their business will survive.
Tourism reporter Tess… Audio
Trans-Tasman bubble: airline industry calls for clarity
The Prime Minister has announced an agreement in principle to establish a travel bubble with Australia before April 2021, but there are calls for more clarity about specific timing to allow operators… Audio
Airline links hanging by a thread
The Board of Airline representatives executive director Justin Tighe-Umbers discusses the future with The Panel. Audio
Aviation sector responds to new alert levels
NZ Aviation Coalition Co-chair Justin Tighe-Umbers and Adrian Littlewood CEO Auckland Airport join Kathryn Ryan. Audio
Level two, a path to recovery?
Domestic travel could begin as soon as mid-May. What will it mean for our crippled tourism industry, and regions facing soaring unemployment? And what will air travel look like once it resumes… Audio
Electronic visitor visas kick in today
Visitors will be unable to travel to New Zealand without a new electronic travel authority or visa from today. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton spoke to the industry to find out if they're confident the… Audio
Airlines say border tax will be difficult to implement
Airlines flying in and out of New Zealand say they're not set up to collect the government's proposed 25-dollar border tax.The specific details of how the tax will work will be made public in the next… Audio
Airlines nervous about looming border tax
The aviation industry says airlines around the world are nervous about the looming border tax in New Zealand, because they may be required to collect it. Australians and Pacific Islanders, as well as… Audio
'Strong conversations' to come once fuel pipeline fixed
Jetfuel remains rationed to all airlines this morning, following the rupture in Refining NZ's fuel pipeline. Thousands of passengers have had their flights cancelled or delayed. The Board of Airline… Audio