TRENZ hits Auckland: NZ tourism’s ‘time to shine’
Sunday, 17 May 2026
More than $3 million will flow into Auckland’s economy next week when hundreds of travel buyers from around the world descend on the city for TRENZ, New Zealand tourism’s biggest annual event.
And with global disruption weighing on the economic outlook, the event couldn’t come at a better time for the tourism industry.
Rebecca Ingram, chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, says there’s momentum in the industry but it is important to ensure New Zealand continues to show up strongly as a destination to visit.
“When international buyers have a customer in front of them, what they share with them is their choice and we want them to sell New Zealand as the amazing destination it is.
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“TRENZ is one way to do it. It is about shaping the decisions of these buyers for years to come, so this is the local industry’s time to shine.”
This year the event, which matches international travel buyers with local tourism operators, will take place over two-and-a-half days at Auckland’s new International Conference Centre.
There will be 16,000 pre-scheduled meetings between 315 operators, 33 of them new attendees, and 379 buyers from 27 countries.
For the first time there will be an “international media marketplace” that will connect 30 journalists from global media outlets such as National Geographic, Condé Nast, CNN Travel and Forbes with 30 selected operators.
The goal behind the marketplace is to try to showcase New Zealand’s unique offerings to audiences around the world through high quality media coverage.
Ingram says TRENZ is into its 32nd year, and it’s important to look for ways to evolve and maximise its impact, and the media marketplace aims to do that.
But the meetings between operators and buyers are at the heart of the event, and this year demand has been unprecedented, with new operators up 60% on last year, and the highest buyer count since 2019, she says.
“It’s a signal of industry confidence, and a confirmation of value. People come back year after year because the return on investment stacks up.
“This year 40% of sellers expect to generate at least $100,000 in revenue directly from TRENZ, and a quarter anticipate more than $250,000.”
Buyers also have high expectations, as 95% see it as a good return on investment, and anticipate gaining new products and partnering with new operators due to their attendance, she says.
“When there are disruptive forces in the world, an event like TRENZ becomes more important.
“The conflict in the Middle East didn’t make a significant dent in our March or April numbers, but we need to look forward to next summer and beyond.”
TRENZ will allow the industry to showcase what is happening, and what is new, and to capitalise on momentum from the summer season, she says.
There will be 58 operators attending with new products. Among them is Allpress Olive Groves, an immersive, destination-style olive estate on Auckland’s Waiheke Island.
The site’s first olive trees were planted 30 years ago, but coffee entrepreneur Michael Allpress founded the current estate in 2021.
Now, there’s luxury accommodation among the trees, and a newly completed bistro, tasting room and event space have been operating since last year.
Allpress Olive Groves accommodation manager Steven Colthard says the estate gives people a chance to experience the olive industry and see how things are done a bit differently on Waiheke.
“We are passionate about agri-tourism, and slow tourism, where people immerse themselves in the experiences a certain place offers, like wine in Bordeaux, and stay in places longer.
“We are tapping into that interest in a setting with luxury accommodation, and people really enjoy it. It also encourages visitors to try some of the other experiences Waiheke has to offer.”
Colthard believes TRENZ is a great opportunity to engage with buyers, and to show what the estate, and the local industry has on offer to an international audience.
Award-winning Kāpiti Island Nature Tours has been attending TRENZ for more than 15 years, but this year they will be there with a new product.
Kāpiti Island in Wellington is one of the world’s oldest nature reserves, and has a rich human history. Manaaki Barrett, the operation’s spokesperson, says the business is based around whānau land and the stories and culture they have to share.
Their products, which include tours and overnight stays, encapsulate that and raise awareness of the natural world and restoration work, he says.
“Our new product is a mainland tour, based around Ōtaki, a revitalised Māori town with great places to visit. It utilises the knowledge of our guides and it's a chance for people to experience something unique.
“For us, TRENZ is an important opportunity to make connections and to sit down with people with an understanding of what international visitors are looking for and explain what we have to offer.”
It also gives them the chance to represent the Wellington region and to try to convince international visitors to spend more time there, exploring what it has to offer, he says.
“The investment we make in attending does get a return and it helps us keep our finger on the pulse of the market.”
AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand is another operator returning to TRENZ. The company started with the world's first commercial bungy jump back in 1988, and now has operations offering a range of adventure experiences in Queenstown, Auckland and Taupō.
Mike Voyce, the company’s sales and marketing manager, says they are entering a period of product innovation, with new experiences designed to broaden appeal and create more ways for visitors to engage with adventure tourism.
New products include the Kawarau Swing in Queenstown, a group-friendly experience that can accommodate up to three people at once, and a soon to-be announced world-first experience in Auckland, he says.
“TRENZ is one of the few opportunities each year to engage directly with the international partners who drive visitation to New Zealand, and for us, those relationships are critical.
“We work across global markets, and the ability to sit down with key distributors allows us to strengthen partnerships, respond to changing demand, and ensure our experiences remain front-of-mind in a competitive global environment.”
It’s also an important moment to represent the strength of New Zealand’s tourism offering collectively, he says. “It reinforces the scale, quality and diversity of what the industry delivers, and that benefits all operators.”
As an event in itself, TRENZ will be a boost to Auckland, with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited director Annie Dundas estimating it will generate $3m for the city’s economy.
“But the real gold is the business that will come out of next week, not just for Auckland but for the tourism industry, which New Zealand’s economy will benefit from.”
She is “overjoyed” to have TRENZ back in Auckland for the first time since 2017 to showcase how much has changed in the city.
Back then there were about 12,000 hotel beds in the city, now there’s 18,000, along with new hotel infrastructure and some big international brands, she says.
“The NZICC is open, Auckland airport’s expansion is under way, Port of Auckland’s new international cruise terminal is set to open in early 2027, and there’s the developments on the waterfront.
“Auckland is on the cusp of great changes.There’s so much going on, and so much to display and exhibit. It’s a huge opportunity for the city.”
One of the mantras they will highlight is that Auckland is always on, and is a bustling, vibrant city with lots to do, be it galleries, dining, outdoor activities, or events, she adds.