There were 3.51 million international visitors to Australia’s nearest neighbour in 2025, up from 3.31 million in 2024.
New Zealand has now recovered to 90 per cent of international visitation figures compared to pre-COVID.
These figures put New Zealand a little behind Australia in terms of recovery, with the latest figures for Australia, which cover the year to September 2025, showing Australia is at 92 per cent of pre-COVID international visitation.
Spending by international visitors to New Zealand was up three per cent to NZ$12.5 billion in 2025 compared to 2024. Although visitor spending in New Zealand in absolute figures has by far eclipsed pre-COVID levels, when adjusting for inflation, spending is at 86 per cent of 2019 figures.
“These latest results show annual spend has been steadily increasing since the borders reopened to international visitors,” said New Zealand’s tourism and hospitality minister, Louise Upston.
“International visitor spend from some countries has now surpassed or nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, with our Aussie cousins contributing NZ$3 billion – 111 per cent of their 2019 spend – and visitors from the United States contributing NZ$1.5 billion, reaching 97 per cent of 2019 levels.
“Overall median spend per visitor (NZ$2,248, up three per cent) and median daily spend (NZ$309, up eight per cent) are all up, which means visitors are spending more in our accommodation, restaurants and local businesses, giving a significant boost to the economy.
“International tourism is New Zealand’s second-largest export earner and we are laser focussed on growing this vital sector, by doubling the value of tourism exports by 2034,” said Upston.
While visitor figures continue to increase, the number of business events in New Zealand – both domestic and international – continues to drop, albeit by a smaller increment.
The total number of business events held in New Zealand was down three per cent in the December quarter, compared to the same quarter in 2024. This latest result is the ninth straight quarter in which a decrease in the number of events has been recorded by the Business Events Data Programme in New Zealand.
However, the decrease was the smallest since the number of events began fall in the December 2023 quarter.
On a bright note, the number of delegates at business events in New Zealand rose – by six per cent – compared to the corresponding quarter the previous year. This is the first rise based on quarter by quarter comparison in more than two years – since the September 2023 quarter.
This may have been helped along by New Zealand hosting its largest ever academic conference in November 2025 – the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (WIPCE) for 3,800 attendees.
