Five ways the government wants to change your weekend getaway

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

The government has its eye on increasing international visitor numbers, but also wants domestic tourists to sustain the industry year-round.

New Zealand releases first national tourism policy statement aiming to double 2023 tourism export value by 2034.

Domestic tourism expenditure accounts for 61% of total tourism spending for year ended March 2025.

Government considers creating short-term rental accommodation register to track and regulate Airbnb and Bookabach properties nationwide.

The Government has released New Zealand’s first national policy statement for tourism, outlining how to manage the country’s second-highest export earner over the next decade.

Naturally, it wants to bring in international visitors and their dollars – setting an ambitious goal to double the 2023 value of tourism exports by 2034—but it also notes that domestic travellers can no longer be treated as an afterthought.

Imagine if accommodation providers, airlines and other event operators teamed up when concerts were on to make a trip to see it more affordable.

For the year ended March 31, 2025, domestic tourism expenditure accounted for 61% of total tourism expenditure.

The new policy statement lays out eight core objectives for councils, the industry and central government to achieve across successive governments.

So, what does this mean when you pack the car on a Friday afternoon? Here are five ways the new tourism strategy aims to reshape your next weekend getaway.

The carpark in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park can be busy.

1. The prices align

The current reality: Most of our travel is done during weekends, school holidays and peak seasons, creating congestion and flat-out hospitality staff and tour guides.

If Barbie’s Dreamhouse was on Airbnb in New Zealand, it would be eyed up for a short-term rental register.

The policy's wishlist: The framework aims to give you a reason to travel in May or October instead to support regional and shoulder-season dispersal. It plans to do this by aligning pricing, event calendars and transport connections.

Imagine the hotel has a really stellar price for that wine festival in Hawke’s Bay or that concert in Auckland and there was a cheap airfare too. Well, it’d be rude not to go.

2. Car park carnage no more

Food festivals like Hawke’s Bay F.A.W.C draw crowds.

The current reality: The mission of tackling some of our most popular walks can start at the car park. Finding one can be impossible, as everyone also thought it would be a great idea on the crisp South Island morning to get on the trails.

The policy's wishlist: At high-demand sites managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), like Aoraki/Mt Cook, the goal is to introduce disciplined 'visitor management settings'. In the future, that spontaneous weekend walk might require you to book an arrival slot online first or a parking space before you hit the road.

3. The accommodation streamline

The government wants local councils to focus on night-time experiences, such as looking for glowworms at Brook Waimārama Sanctuary in Christchurch.

The current reality: Booking a private bach or Airbnb right now is a gamble. Standards are inconsistent, rules change the moment you cross a council border, and you can face sudden, frustrating cancellations if a host gets shut down by local authorities.

The policy's wishlist: The government has agreed to consider options for a short-term rental accommodation register. This would pull all properties, including treehouses and single rooms on Airbnb to beachfront mansions and humble shacks on Bookabach, into a single database so they can be tracked, vetted, and taxed like hotels, meaning fewer surprises when you open the front door.

Under the Auckland City Deal, they are also exploring an accommodation levy by 2027, meaning your weekend stay in Auckland might eventually come with an extra tax on the bill.

4. Good food everywhere

The current reality: Food is already a big driver of domestic tourism, with many food festivals and events filling people’s calendars. However, the Government believes New Zealand’s food has a low profile internationally and the experiences need elevating.

The policy's wishlist: The Government will implement a national culinary tourism strategy to identify opportunities to strengthen destination differentiation and hospitality performance and support regional dispersal. That means good food everywhere you look.

The Government has already invested $6.3 million over three years in one of the world’s most influential restaurant rating systems, the Michelin Guide with the inaugural New Zealand stars to (hopefully) be dished out on June 30.

5. Staying up later

The current reality: Some places are dead after dark with the only thing to do being getting ready for bed. Other places in New Zealand have several night-time activities in safe places, such as stargazing, treetop walks and glowworm searching.

The policy’s wishlist: Local councils will place a heavy focus on the night-time economy – clustering hospitality, public art, and events in pedestrian-friendly town centres so that your destination stays safe, active, and welcoming long after dark.

That’s a win whether you’re visiting the town, or call it home. Perhaps New Zealand will become more like the global cities that never sleep, instead of being in bed by 9pm.