Deals hard work at luxury end

Guests are still forking out top-dollar for luxury lodges where staff are less likely to cut rates.

Kauri Cliffs luxury lodge in Northland is offering a "winter special", with weekend rates for two people totalling $1518.74 a night - a price which includes drinks and pre-dinner canapes, a full breakfast and all-day green fees or a 50-minute massage.

A sneaky request for a $500-per-person rate was met with a polite "unfortunately, no".

Blanket Bay luxury lodge in Queenstown is offering a 10th- birthday special, cutting its prices from $1068.75 for two people down to $787.50 a night, which includes breakfast, pre-dinner drinks and canapes and a five-course dinner.

A request for a $600-a-night rate was politely declined.

Taupo's Huka Lodge had rooms for $1642.50, including pre-dinner drinks and canapes, an open bar, five-course dinner and buffet breakfast. An offer to pay $1500 was not accepted.

But Azur luxury retreat in Queenstown was talked down from $1125 a night to $900 in a deal that included transfers to and from the airport and town, pre-dinner canapes, breakfast, afternoon tea and wireless internet.