Today (14th August 2026), Pacific Destinations is celebrating a rather special milestone - 30 years in the business of showing the world the very best of New Zealand!

It is a pretty good innings in any industry. In tourism, where change is the only constant, it’s something we’re particularly proud of. There have been plenty of changes over three decades - technology, travel trends, travellers’ expectations and the alarming realisation that we now need a password for absolutely everything. We’ve learned a lot along the way! So, to celebrate, we thought we’d ask the team to share one piece of wisdom… a little nugget of advice they’ve learned along the way! Some are wise, some are practical, some are surprisingly profound - and no doubt a few are best described as lessons learned the hard way! In fairness, not everyone in our team has 30 years of professional or even personal life experience to draw on - some are still working towards it (lucky them - they missed the fax era!).

But while plenty has changed, our passion for New Zealand, our partners and the people who travel with us remains as strong as ever. From our beginnings to where we are today, one thing has remained constant - Pacific Destinations has always been a family affair. Graeme, Mark and Trent have been at the heart of the journey and now Sutts has joined the team to help write the next chapter and carry our story forward.

So, this week, we’re raising a glass to 30 years of Pacific Destinations and taking a moment to celebrate our people, our partnerships, our successes and, of course, the stories that got us here.

• Tammy Vaotu’ua - “There is no such thing as too many emojis in one email”! 🩷🎉🍾😉🤣
• Amanda Heather - “It’s not worth sweating the small stuff and that mistakes are all part of the learning process”
• Stephen Ecclestone - “You’re never too old to keep learning - if you are open to it”
• Anna Gillan - “I learned a while ago that I should always leave a PD social event before the bosses start ordering shots for everyone….especially if I have work the next day”!
• Poppy Billington - “It’s never too late to try something new”
• Carol Adams – “I’ve learned while hiking that a tired body at the end of a few days on track is the price of a rejuvenated soul”
• Karina Caputo - “I’ve learned while working that, ‘just a quick amendment’ is never quick, ‘fully booked’ is never the end of the story and somehow everything is always urgent”
• Mikaela Pole - “Although I am not 30 quite yet, I have learned in my 26 years that life is better living when you are being your authentic self”
• Stephanie Delzenne - “I have learned that, I’ll only be an hour or two’, means I get home around 2am” (ie PD nights out! lol)
• Chris Sutton (Sutts) – “I've learned that at PD most of the owners still own a comb. They just can’t part with it...”
• Sophie Yang - “Sometimes you just need to slow down, remain calm and let life happen”
• Amelia Loho - “I’ve learned the phrase ‘no such thing as a free lunch’ – everything comes with a cost to make it happen”
• Jessie Dooling - “You don't actually need a plan for everything, just the stamina to adapt when things inevitably change”
• Natsuki Ota – “A cup of coffee and snacks are necessary when I’m facing problems or misfortunes. It's important to try maintaining peace of mind even during tough times”
• Antje Pauly - “You should never say anything in front of a toddler that you do not want repeated out loud to a stranger”
• Angelika Freeman - “I’ve learned that culture is travelling through food”
• Yosua Asehan - “Happiness is often just good food, good company and having absolutely nothing scheduled tomorrow”
• Cynthia Chia – “Never say we don’t know or we can’t do it.  Always say we will try or we will check. This will lead to a possible result rather than disappointment”
• Gowri Lokesh – “I’ve learned that the work culture you create for people can stay with them long after the work itself”
• Ayriana Rackham – “It’s worth spending money on good food, good shoes, good pillows and good memories - deliciousness, movement, sleep and joy are everything”!
• Amanda (Mandy) Pribadi – “I’ve learned that the older you get, the better you get. Unless you’re a banana”!
• Kelly Leonard - “I’ve learned that going to bed early is no longer a punishment. It’s a lifestyle choice”
• Roberta Rho - “I’ve learned that true love really does exist. In all my life, no boyfriend has ever lasted 30 years, but PD has - proof that when you find the right people, you never want to leave”
• Natalie Pitts - “I’ve learned that the older I get, the more exciting it is when plans get cancelled”
• Denise Alexander - I've learned that every hotel has its own definition of a ‘room with a view’”!
• Lorraine Law – “There is no problem that a bubble tea can’t solve and if one is not enough, then have two”
• Chihiro Nakada – “I’ve learned that cats don’t ask for snacks. They create technical difficulties until you give them some”
• Hanka Timm - “Success or value of oneself isn’t measured in what you can provide for others. Find a group of weirdos who enjoy talking to you even when there is no big story and nothing important happening. Those are your people”
• Mako Ishizuka - "I've learned that silence around children is usually suspicious."
• Mika Okumura – “I’ve learned that stepping away from the familiar and walking an unfamiliar path is one of the best ways to grow. Travel makes you richer in ways money never can. So, let’s travel”!
• Christiane Winges – “The best adventures often include a few unexpected detours and also that a little flexibility, a sense of humour and having snacks on hand especially with 3 kids can get you through almost everything”!
• Alexandra Mason – “Comparison is the thief of joy - you can’t compare your life to someone else as we are all on such different life journeys, so embrace yours and live it as best as you can”
• Melanie Povey - “Count your blessings not your troubles”
• Arran O’Kane - I've learned that great memories always last longer than souvenirs 
• Rangi Fatani - “I’ve learned when I started spending my own money, I realised mum was right when she said we have food at home”
• Kelly Furmage - I've learned that life goes far too quickly, so make sure to enjoy even the smallest moments”!
• Maggie Dowd – “I’ve learned that opening the fridge repeatedly does not create new food” 
• Rachel Hamilton-Smith – “I have learned that you can meet somebody tomorrow who has better intentions for you than someone you’ve known forever. Time means nothing. Character does”
• Nathan Bitcheno – “I’ve learned that receiving the phrase ‘quick question’ in teams can be the start of anything from 30 seconds to multiple months of work”
• Yvonne Bohn - "When it all feels too hard - go for a bike ride"
• Trent Harnett – “Bite off more than you can chew and chew like hell”
• Mark Badland – “Dream big! Learn from yesterday but never let it stop you saying yes to tomorrow’s adventure”