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Back and better than ever, TRENZ came home to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland May 19-21 and the city made sure it was worth the wait. Held at New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), TRENZ this year brought together 1,200 delegates for two and a half days of business, fresh thinking and manaakitanga.
The numbers this year- 379 travel buyers from 27 countries, 315 of New Zealand’s top tourism operators, and more than 16,000 business meetings across the programme. In Wednesday’s Tourism Briefing TIA chief executive Rebecca Ingram says, “This year’s event will go down as one of the largest and most innovative TRENZ events on record. We have more buyers this year than any time since 2019.”
The theme for TRENZ 2026 was Whakapiki- to elevate and Auckland was the place for it. For delegates that arrived from markets including Australia, China, Japan, India, the US, the UK and Germany, it was a different Auckland to the one some had experience before. New accommodation options, a revamped waterfront, the opening of the City Rail Link connecting the city’s neighbourhoods, and the NZICC, making it obvious Auckland is a destination in its own right.
Over 340 buyers took part in famil experiences across 22 itineraries with 25 local operators from culture and food to nature and te ao Māori. The International Media Marketplace (IMM) also made its New Zealand debut alongside TRENZ, bringing together 30 international and local media with 35 tourism businesses and RTOs.
Tourism 2050
Day two (May 20) included a big announcement from TIA: a refresh of the Tourism 2050 Blueprint. Originally published in November 2023, the Blueprint has guided the industry with ten priority actions and a clear vision for the sector’s future. Rather than a rewrite, the refresh will build on what’s working. The vision, framework, and ten-action architecture. The focus will now be on updating the strategic context, strengthening the measurement framework, and refining specific actions where things have changed.
Air New Zealand connects the South Island
One of the biggest and most exciting announcements announced at TRENZ 2026 was Air New Zealand confirming three new non-stop international routes from Christchurch – to Singapore, Tokyo (Narita) and Perth – launching from late October. The expansion is made possible by the airline’s 787 aircraft returning to service after global engine maintenance issues, plus new 787s entering the fleet.
Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar says, “As New Zealand’s national airline we think about connectivity at a country level – where we can help open up the greatest value and opportunities for customers, for regions, and for the economy. With aircraft returning to service, we’re now in the fantastic position of being able to grow again, and we are delighted this is going to happen in the South Island.”
For Christchurch, the South Island and for international visitors who’ve been waiting for a direct route in, it’s a game-changer.
Looking ahead
New Zealand tourism is still navigating challenges that include long-haul disruption, changing markets, and the ongoing work of the pandemic, But with an estimated $3 million in economic impact for Auckland from the event alone, and 16,000 meetings to see the seasons ahead, TRENZ 2026 is still raising the profile for Aotearoa as a top destination.
