Kia ora THE
So far this summer has been marked by both celebration and deep sadness across our sector. First, I must acknowledge the devastating landslide at Mount Maunganui which claimed the lives of six people, and has impacted many more. I know our thoughts remain with the whānau, friends, colleagues, and communities of those affected.
We’ve also seen challenging weather patterns disrupt what is usually one of our busiest periods. I know many operators have faced cancellations, access issues, and increased pressures at a time when resilience has already been stretched. Thank you for the professionalism and manaakitanga you continue to show visitors despite these challenges.
Sadly, I also acknowledge the loss of Robert Phillips, a much-respected Te Puia guide who passed away in a tragic accident last month. This is a huge loss for the Te Puia whānau, and we are thinking of them all at this time.
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February has kicked off with a bang, with the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) opening on 11 February. This is a game-changer when it comes to strengthening our business events sector and attracting high-value visitors from across the globe.
With capacity for over 4,000 people, NZICC gives New Zealand the scale and capability to attract conferences and events we simply couldn’t host before, and the benefits will go well beyond the venue and events sector too. International delegates are high-value visitors who enjoy our hotels, hospitality, transport, culture, shopping and more during their time here.
There’s already a strong pipeline of events booked for NZICC, and I know our Business Events team is looking forward to helping secure many more in the coming years.
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This year also marks a milestone for us here at Tourism New Zealand, as we celebrate our 125th anniversary. As the world’s first government tourism department, TNZ’s history is deeply intertwined with Aotearoa’s reputation as a world‑class destination. This anniversary is a reminder of the long legacy of people promoting New Zealand to the world, and the importance of continuing to evolve and innovate how we tell our story. I’d also like to acknowledge the important role of New Zealand Māori Tourism, and the Māori guides who led organised activity many decades prior to our formal inception.
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The December international arrivals have recently emerged: across 2025, there were 3.51 million international visitors who came to our shores, up 6 per cent on 2024. We’re now back to over 90 per cent of the 3.9 million visitors who visited in 2019 and getting close to our goal of 3.7 million arrivals for the year to June 2026.
There are encouraging signs of momentum from the China visitor market. At an event commemorating Lunar New Year earlier this month, I mentioned there is 33% more air capacity than a year ago. Six airlines now fly into New Zealand, including more flights from Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing. China Southern has recently added an additional 23,000 seats on flights to New Zealand for the June quarter too. This all indicates rising confidence and demand, and we are looking forward to this momentum continuing.
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Through the Government’s Major Events and Tourism Package, funding has been committed to grow international visitor numbers, deliver economic growth, and position New Zealand as a major events and tourism destination. TNZ teams in New Zealand and offshore have collaborated closely with RTOs across the country on regional marketing campaigns encouraging international visitors to book their trip to Aotearoa.
As well as support for regional activity, it is exciting to see ‘new to New Zealand’ events like the World Surf League (May 2026) and the State of Origin (2027) announced too. These major events help with the push for visitors, but also ensure 100% Pure New Zealand is up in lights in our most important international markets.
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As we continue through the busy tourism season, I want to again acknowledge the collective efforts of those working across tourism, events, and hospitality. Your resilience, creativity, and commitment continue to shape the success of our industry.
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