Tourism New Zealand was today announced by Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key as the naming rights sponsor of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest winter sports event – the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games which takes place on 21 -30 August 2009.

It’s that time again already! The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest winter party is set to take Queenstown by storm this weekend, as the alpine resort celebrates the opening of the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival 2009.

Cardrona Alpine Resort kicks off the 2009 season this Friday (26 June) welcoming skiers and boarders to enjoy the best opening snow conditions in over a decade, the resort will open all facilities and 100% of their extensively groomed trails.

Football fever is running rampant in Queenstown ahead of the resort’s first ever top-flight professional football game next Saturday 27 June 2009.

Queenstown’s famed Browns Ski Shop has launched New Zealand’s first dedicated mobile fitting service for ski and snowboard equipment.