2001

 A project initiated by the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education (ATLAS) by creating the International Backpacker Research Group of multidisciplinary expertise required studying all the facets of backpacker behaviour and motivation. The group has set out a research agenda and currently works on a structured research plan of using common questionnaires/interview schedules across different countries to provide comparative international data.

The rapid growth and development of information technologies (IT) is creating great opportunities for tourism businesses. Despite the potential for IT to assist the New Zealand tourism industry, studies show that the rate of IT up-take among small firms is worryingly low.

Maungawhau (Mt Eden) is an Auckland landmark, a premier park and a prime example of Auckland’s volcanic, archaeological and cultural heritage. Despite the importance of Maungawhau to a number of different groups we still have little information on who visits, what they value about the mountain, and what their patterns of behaviour are. This report aims to strengthen our understanding of these issues. We present an overview of summit visitor demographics, reasons for visit, arrival methods, visitation patterns, likes/dislikes, and views on management of the mountain.