21 July 2004

Hon Matt Robson MP, Progressive Deputy Leader

Tourist arrivals in New Zealand up 20% in June - don't tell NZ First

Progressive MP Matt Robson says it is good news for job creation that international visitors to New Zealand last month totalled nearly 135,000, up 20% on June 2003.

"In the 12 months to June 30, 2004, international visitor numbers were up 10 per cent on the previous 12-month period, and now stand at 2.25 million visitors who are looking for places to stay, to eat, to do business and to be entertained.

"This is a great vote of confidence in New Zealand, but don't tell NZ First lest they want to ban this progress," the Progressive MP said.

Statistics New Zealand reported today that arrivals in New Zealand from Japan and China were up by 82 and 184 per cent respectively in June. International visitors spend over $6.4 billion in New Zealand each year.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>