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Tourism and hospitality minister Louise Upston has welcomed new figures showing sustained growth in international visitor arrivals, with Australia remaining New Zealand’s strongest tourism market.
Louise says visitor arrivals from Australia reached 1.48 million in the September 2025 year, up from 1.33 million in the previous year. “That’s an increase of 153,500, or 12 per cent, compared with September 2024,” she says.
“For September-year data, 2025 recorded the second-highest number of arrivals from Australia after 2019. This reflects the increase in trans-Tasman flights and the success of Tourism New Zealand’s Everyone Must Go campaign.
“Australians have well and truly grabbed that opportunity — and everyone has come.”
Stats NZ data shows New Zealand welcomed 248,600 international visitors in September 2025, up 21,700 on September 2024. Louise says the lift reflects the Government’s efforts to attract more international visitors and get the tourism sector “humming again”.
The largest annual increases were from:
- Australia — up 153,000 to 1.48 million
- United States — up 21,000 to 381,000
- United Kingdom — up 20,000 to 190,000
- Japan — up 10,000 to 74,000
Chinese arrivals remained steady at 246,100, compared with 245,800 the year before.
Louise says international arrivals to Queenstown and Christchurch are the highest on record for this time of year, with Auckland accommodation expected to hit full occupancy next week. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited forecasts 80–85 per cent occupancy across the city over summer.
“These are promising signs and reflect the hard work the Government and the sector have been doing together,” she says.
Louise says this year’s Tourism Boost package, developed with industry to drive immediate growth, is already showing results. “We’ve continued that teamwork through September’s $70 million events and tourism investment package, alongside last week’s announcement that we are welcoming the Michelin Guide to these shores.
“This is all part of the Government’s plan to double the value of international tourism by 2034. A thriving tourism sector is crucial to New Zealand’s economic success, and one I’m fully committed to.”
