Cruise ships get a thumbs up from New Zealand

While many destinations around the world are banning or restricting cruise ships the New Zealand government announced they will be permitted to continue sailing Milford Sound.

The decision came after calls to block cruise ships.

Government officials say they have struck a balance by allowing cruise tourism in Milford Sound Piopiotahi while funding $NZ15.2 million for infrastructure improvements and conservation.

“We are supporting the local economy and providing certainty for operators by enabling cruise ships and aircraft to continue to access the fjord,” said New Zealand Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston.

Cruises are already restricted in the Sound and no more than two ships can visit per day.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) welcomed the decision.

“Milford Sound Piopiotahi is one of New Zealand’s most spectacular natural assets and the international cruise industry is strongly committed to protecting it,” the CLIA said.

“The cruise industry will continue to work closely with New Zealand authorities to ensure the appropriate management of cruise tourism.”

All visiting cruise ships must sign a deed of agreement with Environment Southland for managed access to the Southland coast.

Trump bans people from 12 countries from the US

We’ve all read about Australians with legitimate visas being refused entry to the United States by “overzealous” US Customs and Border Protection staff. 

Now President Donald Trump has upped the ante by banning anyone from 12 countries from entering the US at all. 

The Trump administration on Wednesday banned people from 12 countries from entering the United States, a dramatic escalation in Trump’s crackdown on immigration, The New York Times reports. 

The ban, which goes into effect on Monday, primarily affects travellers from Africa nations and the Middle East. The list includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. 

How dare they not be American? 

Trump has also partially banned travellers from several other countries, including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

The decision to ban travel from those countries comes after Trump blocked asylum seekers at the southern border of the US and barred international students from Harvard University.

The newspaper says Trump’s order frames the reasoning for restricting travel as necessary because of national security threats, but critics say that the order discriminates against broad swaths of people based on their ethnicity alone. 

In his first term as president Trump barred travel from several Muslim-majority countries, including Iran.

“The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas. We don’t want them,” Trump said in a video message posted on social media.

Trump’s order comes just a few days after an Egyptian man in Colorado attacked a group honouring hostages being held in Gaza. Trump administration officials warned that they would crack down on migration in the wake of the attack.

You can just imagine the outrage if countries imposed complete bans on US passport holders. 

Get 66% off Vietjet fares - for one day only

The folks at Vietjet - the biggest airline between Australia and Vietnam - love a headline-grabbing sale, or special offer.

Their latest offer runs for one day only on Friday, June 8, with Vietjet launching an exclusive 6/6 flash sale, offering a 66% discount off Eco fare tickets across its entire network - with 66,666 discounted seats up for grabs.

The promotion applies to Aussie travellers looking to explore Vietnam’s top destinations like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City flying from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.

The offer is valid for travel between August 18 and November 30.

Vietjet is rolling out hot new routes this winter, such as Phu Quoc–Singapore, Hanoi–Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen), Nha Trang-Da Nang, and international services to Xi’an and Chengdu in China.

The airline's flight network covers Vietnam, Australia, India, China, South Korea, Japan, and south-east Asia.

Fares must be booked at www.vietjetair.com or the Vietjet Air mobile app by entering the promo code SUPERSALE66.

Tread Softly walks the walk for female winemakers

Tread Softly Wines, one of Australia’s highest-profile sustainability-driven wine brands, has launched a Next Generation Winemaking Rising Star Program, an initiative designed to empower the next wave of female winemaking talent.

The year-long program offers one rising female winemaker the chance to work alongside some of Australia’s top mentors, develop their own signature wine, and gain end-to-end exposure across production, marketing, and global trade and consumer engagement.

Known for is eco-friendly practices and lighter wines, Tread Softly's new initiative has been designed to empower emerging winemakers to continue progressing in sustainable winemaking and nurture a greener future for generations to follow.

Applications are now open for the program and close on July 11.

Tread Softly says it has a mission to incorporate social responsibility by supporting emerging winemakers.

“Our goal with the Next Generation Winemaking Rising Star Program is to champion up-and-coming female winemakers to leave their mark on the industry," said Indeya Passfield, Tread Softly global marketing manager and program mentor.

"Tread Softly is more than a wine brand - it’s a movement. By employing efficient production practices and planting over two million trees, we’ve been working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and give back to the land.

"Now, we are expanding our mission to give back to the wine world by investing in its future leaders.”

Submissions will be judged on creativity, authenticity, and sustainability, with the most compelling entry selected for the program.

Tread Softly is a brand of Fourth Wave Wines. See www.treadsoftly.com/nextgeneration.

South-East Asia full of promise for wine producers

South-East Asia is a region that offers multiple new business opportunities for wine producers around the world, the head of the Vinexpo organisation believes.

Speaking after the conclusion of Vinexpo Asia in Singapore, Vinexposium CEO Rodolphe Lamayse said: "The wine and spirits industry is at a global turning point.

"With so many uncertainties re-shaping global trade, South-East Asia emerges as a new consumption continent. This is no time for solo moves - it's about playing as a team.

"And Vinexpo Asia offered precisely the field for that. Our responsibility is clear: bring structure, perspective, and clarity."

Vinexpo Asia 2025 ran from May 27-29 and attracted 8,998 trade participants at Marina Bay Sands, including substantial numbers from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Vinesposium reported that the ASEAN bloc demonstrated a shared momentum driven by demographic growth and economic ambition.

"It's always very exciting to be at Vinexpo Asia, it's an annual activity for us. We meet our partners and explore new brands to introduce in Malaysia. Being here speeds up the process," says Wilson Khor, marketing brand manager at Luen Heng F&B.

Vinexpo Asia will returns to Hong Kong from May 26-28 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (HKCEC). The event alternates between Singapore and Hong Kong.

For more information see the Vinexpo Asia website.

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Double duty for star chef Kellie

There are some busy times ahead for star Adelaide chef Jake Kellie.

Kellie, who guides star eatery arkhé, has this week also taken the reins as culinary director at luxury Barossa estate Kingsford The Barossa.

Kellie will lead Kingsford’s Orleana Restaurant as well as the broader food offering across the boutique hotel.

He is charged with re-shaping the restaurant’s offering that promises to be a celebration of the region's rich produce. 

"Kellie’s bold cooking style and immersive approach to dining is in perfect synergy with the vision for Orleana, a restaurant designed to showcase the depth of produce in the region and complement the legacy and landscape of the Kingsford Estate, says Salter Brothers Hospitality Chief Operating Officer, Andrea Richards.

"He’s built an outstanding reputation with some of the world’s best chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal, honing his craft at revered restaurants including The Fat Duck (UK), The Ledbury (UK), Estelle (Melbourne), Aria (Sydney) and most notably as head chef at Michelin-starred Burnt Ends in Singapore that also inspired his own restaurant, arkhé.

“As one of Australia’s finest chefs, his approach to food is fearless, refined, and grounded in deep respect for produce and technique. He pushes boundaries without losing sight of authenticity, which is exactly why he resonates so strongly with today’s guests.”

The dining space at Orleana sits within Kingsford’s luxury lodge, surrounded by 225-acres of native Australian landscape.

The restaurant serves both a la carte and a chef’s selection with ingredients harvested either on-site from the estate’s kitchen garden or sourced via a network of local growers.

A big task given he will also continue to oversee arkhé, his Norwood restaurant.

“This is a place where food is grown with care, cooked with purpose, and served with humility," Kellie says.

"It's a place where guests are invited to connect - with the region, the producers, and the stories behind each plate. I believe that modern Australian cuisine is not defined by trend, but by terroir - and that thoughtful food, grown and cooked with integrity, creates meaningful hospitality.

“For me, Orleana is a chance to bring something fresh and grounded to the Barossa, a restaurant that’s shaped by the seasons, the producers we work with, and the amazing team behind it. I want to create food that feels honest and generous and build a culture that supports that at every level. There’s so much potential here, and I’m keen to bring it to life.” 

See https://kingsfordbarossa.com.au/