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The 2025 Tourism Export Council of New Zealand Annual Conference officially opened in the Bay of Islands this week, with Chairperson Scott Mehrtens delivering a powerful address urging the sector to shift from recovery into confident, forward-focused growth.
Speaking to delegates at the Copthorne Hotel & Resort Waitangi, Scott highlighted both the achievements and ongoing challenges faced by New Zealand’s international tourism industry, framing this year’s theme, Leadership in Action, as a call for bold, united advocacy.
“After three seasons of recovery, it’s time to rebuild with confidence, vision, and purpose,” Scott says. “While we’ve reached 86 per cent of pre-COVID visitor numbers, we’re still lagging behind key global markets. Now is not the time for complacency.”
Scott welcomed more than 300 attendees, including local dignitaries, tourism leaders, and government officials, and acknowledged the support of key sponsors including New Zealand Māori Tourism, Tourism New Zealand, Air New Zealand, and Northland Inc.
A central focus of the speech was TECNZ’s ongoing advocacy around the misclassification of GST on Inbound Tour Operator export services — a long-standing issue that places New Zealand operators at a disadvantage compared to their Australian counterparts.
“ITO services are exports, and they should be treated as such,” Scott says. “We’re not asking for a handout. We’re asking for tax parity — a fair, competitive playing field.”
He warned that unless the classification is corrected, ITOs may be incentivised to relocate offshore, taking with them valuable economic activity and employment opportunities.
Other key issues addressed included concerns over rising visitor fees and potential new Department of Conservation charges, which Scott says risk damaging New Zealand’s value proposition in a globally competitive market.
“We welcome visitors — but we can’t send mixed messages by layering on new costs. That risks undermining growth at a time when the industry needs certainty to reinvest in assets and infrastructure,” he says.
The conference also celebrated recent TECNZ milestones, including a financial surplus, a 25 per cent increase in YoungTEC membership, and the success of the inaugural TECNZ Trade Event, which attracted nearly 400 attendees earlier this year. TECNZ also announced a new online Health & Safety portal for suppliers, set to go live before the next tourism season.
In closing, Scott encouraged delegates to connect, collaborate, and challenge each other over the coming days, and to help lead the sector into a “smarter, stronger, and more sustainable future”.
