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Regional Tourism New Zealand is calling on political parties to back a nationwide accommodation levy, arguing it would give regions a more sustainable way to fund tourism infrastructure and visitor-related services.
In a new policy position released on June 23, 2026, the organisation says a national charge on short-term visitor accommodation would create a direct link between visitor spending and investment in the communities they visit, without adding to rates or general taxation.
RTNZ chair Andrew Wilson says the levy would provide a fairer and more sustainable funding model for destinations under pressure from visitor demand.
“An accommodation levy gives us the tools to invest in the places visitors come to experience – the infrastructure, the events, the amenities that make New Zealand destinations world-class,” Andrew says.
Regional Tourism New Zealand is calling for any levy to apply across all accommodation types, including short-term rentals, with revenue returned to the region where it is collected and ring-fenced for tourism-related investment. It is also urging the Government to establish a national short-term rental accommodation register to sit alongside the levy.
The organisation says councils are increasingly carrying the cost of tourism infrastructure, while many comparable destinations in Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States already operate accommodation levies.
RTNZ represents 31 regional tourism organisations and says national legislation is the only workable path to avoid a patchwork of inconsistent local charges.
