Postponed NZChina tourism launch has new date

WELLINGTON: The ChinaNew Zealand Year of Tourism launch will go ahead later this month, after its deferral in February launched a wave of speculation about the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

Speaking yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the event would take place on March 29 at Te Papa, in Wellington.

‘‘It will form part of a visit to New Zealand by a delegation from China to be led by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Luo Shugang.’’

It was reported last month the event had been postponed by the Chinese.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment tourism policy manager Richard Davies said at the time: ‘‘China has advised that this event has had to be postponed due to changes of schedule on the Chinese side.’’

Ms Ardern said it was a

‘‘scheduling issue’’.

She reiterated that nothing should be read into the fact the event was postponed in the first place.

‘‘Year of Tourism events have been continuing and going well. This is an opportunity for New Zealand to promote a wider range of regions.’’

She said work had been under way in Rotorua and Hawke’s Bay in training tourism operators to ‘‘increase the diverse range of locations that tourists from China travel to’’.

New Zealand China Council executive director Stephen Jacobi was pleased the event’s date had been set.

‘‘I think it shows business as usual with China,’’ he said.

Although there have been some decisions the Government had made that China did not like, such as the decision to block Huawei from helping to build New Zealand’s 5G network, he warned against reading too much into the deferral.

New Zealand and China’s relationship was not in trouble.

‘‘New Zealand and China, while close friends, are different countries and there would always be difficulties and disappointments from time to time.’’

He said it would be better to focus on the things the two countries could do together.

Ms Ardern has not yet confirmed when she would be travelling to Beijing.

‘‘Ultimately, the invitation was extended some time ago and we have been working on both sides to find a mutually convenient time for the visit.’’