Latest news with #InternationalVisitorLevy
Scoop
10-07-2025
- Scoop
Great Walks Popularity Supporting Tourism Growth
Press Release – New Zealand Government Booking system upgrades – including a new online lobby – successfully processed a peak of nearly 12,000 people waiting to book the Milford when it opened on 28 May in an hour. Minister of Conservation A significant boost in the number of people booking bednights along the country's Great Walks is a good sign for conservation tourism and local businesses, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. Opening day bookings for each of the Great Walks were up by over 10,000 bednights compared to last year, totalling more than 140,000 bednights and bringing in more than $9 million to the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai, says Mr Potaka. 'Booking system upgrades – including a new online lobby – successfully processed a peak of nearly 12,000 people waiting to book the Milford when it opened on 28 May in an hour. 'People across the world are dreaming of walking our beautiful whenua. Great Walks bookings are our golden tickets. You don't need rivers of chocolate when you've got the Routeburn Track. 'Even this time of year, places like Abel Tasman Great Walk have space to escape under the stars for Matariki mā Puanga – take some hot Milo,' says Mr Potaka. In 2024 nearly three-quarters of international visitors said they did a hike, walk or tramp while in Aotearoa New Zealand, and around half visited a National Park. Conservation-related tourism is worth around $3.4 billion a year. 'This is great for local businesses, local jobs and incomes. Before and after their walk they stay, eat and adventure locally, injecting money into local economies. 'The Government is backing sustainable conservation tourism that supports local economies. That's why we will continue to invest funds from the International Visitor Levy into protecting and enhancing our biodiversity such as in Rakiura National Park.' Notes: Great Walks opening day bookings All Great Walks increased their bednights booked, except for Heaphy and Whanganui River Journey; see table – this is a snapshot of bookings made on the opening days. 2025/26 Total Bednights NZ bednights International bednights 2024/25 % change Abel Tasman 28,618 24,301 4,317 24,943 +15 Heaphy 15,297 14,185 1,112 16,367 -7 Kepler 23,094 16,758 6,336 21,603 +7 Paparoa 11,205 10,636 569 9,924 +13 Rakiura 5,369 4,810 559 5,117 +5 Routeburn 20,910 14,236 6,674 19,561 +7 Whanganui 6,465 5,869 6,505 6505 -1 Milford 21,903 13,356 8,537 21,387 +2 Waikaremoana 7,569 7,053 516 6,429 +18 TOTAL 140,430 111,204 29,226 131,836 +7 DOC bookable huts and campgrounds Top 10 most popular huts Pinnacles hut (Coromandel Forest Park) Mueller hut (Aoraki Mt Cook National Park) Waitawheta hut (Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park) Woolshed Creek hut (Mount Somers, Canterbury) Kōhanga Atawhai – Manson Nicholls hut (Lewis Pass) McKellar hut (Greenstone, Otago) Aspiring hut (Mount Aspiring) Welcome Flat hut (Westland Tai Poutini National Park) Greenstone hut (Otago) Angelus hut (Nelson Lakes National Park) Top 10 most popular campgrounds Tōtaranui campground (Golden Bay) Waikawau Bay campsite (Northern Coromandel) Otamure Bay (Whananaki) campsite (Northland) Momorangi Bay campsite (Marlborough Sounds) Puriri Bay campsite (Northland) Urupukapuka Bay campsite (Northland) Anaura Bay campsite (East Coast Tairawhiti) Waikahoa Bay campsite (Whangarei) White Horse Hill campsite (Aoraki Mt Cook) Uretiti Beach campsite (Whangarei)
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Scoop
Great Walks Popularity Supporting Tourism Growth
Minister of Conservation A significant boost in the number of people booking bednights along the country's Great Walks is a good sign for conservation tourism and local businesses, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. Opening day bookings for each of the Great Walks were up by over 10,000 bednights compared to last year, totalling more than 140,000 bednights and bringing in more than $9 million to the Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai, says Mr Potaka. 'Booking system upgrades - including a new online lobby - successfully processed a peak of nearly 12,000 people waiting to book the Milford when it opened on 28 May in an hour. 'People across the world are dreaming of walking our beautiful whenua. Great Walks bookings are our golden tickets. You don't need rivers of chocolate when you've got the Routeburn Track. 'Even this time of year, places like Abel Tasman Great Walk have space to escape under the stars for Matariki mā Puanga – take some hot Milo,' says Mr Potaka. In 2024 nearly three-quarters of international visitors said they did a hike, walk or tramp while in Aotearoa New Zealand, and around half visited a National Park. Conservation-related tourism is worth around $3.4 billion a year. 'This is great for local businesses, local jobs and incomes. Before and after their walk they stay, eat and adventure locally, injecting money into local economies. 'The Government is backing sustainable conservation tourism that supports local economies. That's why we will continue to invest funds from the International Visitor Levy into protecting and enhancing our biodiversity such as in Rakiura National Park.' Notes: Great Walks opening day bookings All Great Walks increased their bednights booked, except for Heaphy and Whanganui River Journey; see table - this is a snapshot of bookings made on the opening days. 2025/26 Total Bednights NZ bednights International bednights 2024/25 % change Abel Tasman 28,618 24,301 4,317 24,943 +15 Heaphy 15,297 14,185 1,112 16,367 -7 Kepler 23,094 16,758 6,336 21,603 +7 Paparoa 11,205 10,636 569 9,924 +13 Rakiura 5,369 4,810 559 5,117 +5 Routeburn 20,910 14,236 6,674 19,561 +7 Whanganui 6,465 5,869 6,505 6505 -1 Milford 21,903 13,356 8,537 21,387 +2 Waikaremoana 7,569 7,053 516 6,429 +18 TOTAL 140,430 111,204 29,226 131,836 +7 DOC bookable huts and campgrounds Top 10 most popular huts Pinnacles hut (Coromandel Forest Park) Mueller hut (Aoraki Mt Cook National Park) Waitawheta hut (Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park) Woolshed Creek hut (Mount Somers, Canterbury) Kōhanga Atawhai – Manson Nicholls hut (Lewis Pass) McKellar hut (Greenstone, Otago) Aspiring hut (Mount Aspiring) Welcome Flat hut (Westland Tai Poutini National Park) Greenstone hut (Otago) Angelus hut (Nelson Lakes National Park) Top 10 most popular campgrounds Tōtaranui campground (Golden Bay) Waikawau Bay campsite (Northern Coromandel) Otamure Bay (Whananaki) campsite (Northland) Momorangi Bay campsite (Marlborough Sounds) Puriri Bay campsite (Northland) Urupukapuka Bay campsite (Northland) Anaura Bay campsite (East Coast Tairawhiti) Waikahoa Bay campsite (Whangarei) White Horse Hill campsite (Aoraki Mt Cook) Uretiti Beach campsite (Whangarei)
Scoop
03-07-2025
- Scoop
$22 Million To Enhance Wildlife Visitor Experiences
Minister of Conservation Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta me Hineahuone, Toitū te marae a Tangaroa me Hinemoana, Toitū te tangata. Significant investment into supporting native species and tackling invasive pests in national parks has been announced by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. Mr Potaka visited the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust facility near Christchurch today, where he announced $22 million from the International Visitor Levy will go to restoring unique wildlife in national parks, islands and other popular visitor sites over the next three years. Last year, nearly three-quarters of international visitors said they did a hike, walk or tramp while in Aotearoa New Zealand, and around half visited a national park. 'Conservation-related tourism is worth around $3.4 billion a year,' says Mr Potaka. 'By backing conservation and sustainable tourism, the government also boosts our economy. This funding is strategically split between supporting our native species and tackling invasive pests—giving birds, bush, marine life and landscapes respite to recover. 'We're putting $4.15 million into expanding predator control, plus $11.5 million on the recovery of highly threatened species, including tara iti, at national parks and popular sites so visitors can enjoy thriving natural areas where their funds have contributed. 'Almost $7 million will target feral goats which remove the forest undergrowth and prevent regeneration. 'People fly here with the dream of enjoying our world-class environment and we want to make that experience even better for them. It's about generations of whānau camping out and struggling to sleep because of noisy kiwi calling outside; later waking to find only precious footprints. 'I'm delighted $1.7 million of this will go towards protecting critically endangered Canterbury locals—kakī/black stilts and kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeets. 'There are only about 400 of these parakeets in the world. They nest in trees, cared for by both parents – but parent birds are no match for rats and stoats. If these invasive predators are around, eggs and chicks are quickly wiped out. 'We want to protect and grow rare species like these so more people can enjoy them at places closer to home like at The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary near Nelson. 'Budget 2025 allocates $55 million per annum to DOC for new investments from money raised under the new $100 IVL rate. 'New Zealand attracts visitors who care about nature and every cent that goes into conservation is an investment in our environment and our economy.' Additional information on the IVL projects: Expanding landscape scale predator control ($4.15m over 26/27 and 27/28). Additional work in National Parks and priority sites, to grow populations of iconic bird species. The IVL funding will allow DOC to boost predator control operations in 2 or potentially 3 priority areas in response to the beech mast forecast for 2026. Potential locations (triggered by monitoring and need for urgent beechmast response) include: Fiordland, Mt Aspiring, Arthur's Pass, and Kahurangi National Parks in 26/27. IVL funding will also enable the government to maintain the gains of philanthropic projects, maximising predator control outcomes from the NEXT Foundation investment: e.g. in Abel Tasman, Taranaki Mounga and Predator Free South Westland. Goat management in National Parks and popular visitor areas ($6.9m over 3 years from 25/26) where damage results in visitors experiencing forests with limited understory. Priority locations for focus: Whanganui and Kahurangi National Parks Iconic landscapes of Marlborough. In some places it is viable to eradicate (totally remove) goats, creating huge cost efficiencies over the long-term, and reducing the impact of goats on forests. Priority locations include: Westland Tai Poutini National Park Kaimai Forest Park Nelson Lakes National Park Increasing populations of threatened species in national parks, islands and popular sites ($11.5m over 3 years). While increased weed and predator control will help many threatened species, there are targeted actions needed to ensure recovery of our most threatened and iconic species. Initial focus of the IVL funding will be on the recovery of priority, highly threatened species that occur in national parks and high visitation sites, so that visitors can enjoy thriving natural areas where their funds have contributed. 2025/26 IVL funded species include: Fauna: Southern NZ dotterel, kakī, Tara iti, kākāriki karaka, Paparoa giant wētā, Canterbury knobbled weevil, Awakopaka skink, Kakarakau skink, Oligosoma St Arnaud lowland skink. Threatened plants: e.g., Brachyglottis rotundifolia, Solenogyne christensenii, Cardamine mutabilis, Carmichaelia carmichaeliae, Craspedia (Fyfe River). Enhancing biodiversity on islands in popular visitor areas and ensuring appropriate protection is in place for biosecurity on high priority islands. For 2025/26, funding is allocated to the Hauraki Gulf, Marlborough Sounds, Kapiti and Fiordland islands.
Newsroom
30-06-2025
- Business
- Newsroom
DoC and Treasury arm wrestle over visitor levy funds and ‘high-value' investments
The Department of Conservation and Treasury have butted heads over a $32 million 'shortfall' in the department's funding and a difference in opinion of what constitutes a high-value project. A Treasury report on International Visitor Levy investments for the Department of Conservation outlines for and seeks action from Finance Minister Nicola Willis on approval of the department's 2025/26 visitor levy investment envelope along with Treasury's treatment of a '$32 million shortfall from DoC's IVL allocation'.
Scoop
04-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Government To Protect And Enhance Milford Sound Piopiotahi
Press Release – New Zealand Government The first tranche of decisions from the Milford Opportunities Project, announced today, also provide certainty to operators by confirming that cruise ships will continue to access the fjord, and Milford Aerodrome will be retained. Minister of Conservation Hon Louise Upston Minister of Tourism and Hospitality The Government will invest $15.2 million into upgrading infrastructure and enhancing conservation at Milford Sound Piopiotahi to sustainably grow tourism while also protecting the jewel in our conservation crown. The first tranche of decisions from the Milford Opportunities Project, announced today, also provide certainty to operators by confirming that cruise ships will continue to access the fjord, and Milford Aerodrome will be retained. 'This iconic UNESCO World Heritage site in Fiordland attracts more than a million visitors a year and pumps about $200 million into the regional economy, creating jobs and boosting incomes,' Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. 'For Ngāi Tahu, Piopiotahi holds special significance as the final masterpiece of atua and land-shaper Tū Te Rakiwhānoa. 'Visitors accessing the fjord via Milford Road will soon enjoy new and enhanced short stops, including an alpine nature walk in Gertrude Valley. Little Tahiti landfill will also be cleaned up and flood protection at Cleddau River will be improved. 'There will be improved amenities, including much-needed new facilities at Deepwater Basin where we are replacing the recreational boat ramp.' Funding for the improvements will come from the International Visitor Levy ($8.2 million) and the Department of Conservation's capital works programme ($7m). Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said Milford Sound Piopiotahi had a key role to play in helping the country's tourism sector bounce back from the Covid hangover. 'We are supporting the local economy and providing certainty for operators by enabling cruise ships and aircraft to continue to access the fjord, rejecting a previous proposal to ban this. 'We know Milford Sound Piopiotahi, Mitre Peak Rahotū, the bush, the sea and the wildlife play an integral part in capturing the hearts and minds of millions of tourists dreaming of a visit to this wilderness area.' Mr Potaka said the next tranche of work would involve the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai engaging with Ngāi Tahu, and stakeholders such as local government and the tourism industry on further initiatives. 'These include collaborating on investment opportunities along Milford corridor, developing a multi-year investment plan for the area, and considering improved planning tools, such as a Special Amenities Area within Fiordland National Park.' Note:
