'On the floor' at NZ tourism’s biggest show

Saturday, 23 May 2026

There were 315 New Zealand tourism operators on the floor at TRENZ in Auckland this week.

High fuel prices and flight disruptions due to the Middle East conflict are not holding tourism operators back, with the vibe at New Zealand’s biggest tourism conference decidedly upbeat.

More than 1200 delegates hit Auckland this week for the 32nd incarnation of TRENZ, and among them were 315 operators, 33 of them new attendees, looking to promote their products to 379 international buyers.

Tourism Minister Louise Upston visited the event, and said while the atmosphere at last year’s event was positive, this year it felt like the sector had been “unleashed”, with tourism a really exciting place to be.

But these are challenging times, so The Post hit the exhibition floor at TRENZ to find out what operators have to say about the sector and its outlook. Here’s what they told us…

Nic Mead is co-owner of Auckland Sea Kayaks, which specialises in marine-based tourism and education with guided tours around the Hauraki Gulf, and a Community Conservation Fund that hosts beach cleanup days.

The company has been operating for 16 years, but it’s a first-time attendee at TRENZ. For Mead, it felt like the time was right to attend.

In the past the products they had on offer were not trade ready, and they had to develop and mature the business first, he says.

“Our offerings were great products, but needed to be a bit more resilient weather wise. So we developed a product that’s trade ready. Now, it’s been running for a few years, it’s getting good reviews, and so we were ready to come. But as an operation we are still in that growth phase.”

He says being in Auckland, with its 1.8 million people, positions the company well for solid domestic tourism even in the quieter winter season, while international tourists are a key part of the summer season.

As a kayaking company, they don’t have a reliance on fuel, and aren’t feeling the impact of rising costs in the way some are, co-owner Ocean Mead says.

“And with a big portion of our international clients coming from the US and Australia, the low New Zealand dollar makes it very affordable for them at the moment.

“We are already seeing strong forward booking, but being here and meeting with multiple different international buyers helps us bolster the booking volumes we get through those channels.”

The summer season is looking positive, and they are getting group bookings for February, she says. “We’ll probably increase our staff coming into the summer season, so we’re feeling optimistic.”

Conservation projects

Fellow Aucklander Gavin Oliver, from EcoZip Adventures is a long-time TRENZ participant, with this year the 15th time he’s attended.

EcoZip runs zipline adventures in Waiheke and now Kaikōura, including a world-first night sky experience in Kaikōura. The company channels part of its earnings into a range of conservation and sustainability projects.

Oliver says the war in Iran has thrown everybody an unexpected curve, and that’s causing some concern about how flat the winter season might be, but the long-term prognosis for the sector is good.

He has just come back from two weeks in the US on road shows, and the demand preference there for New Zealand is really strong, he says.

“I think we're going to do very well out of there this summer. And for us, this is the best TRENZ we’ve done, with tangible business already coming out of the meetings we’ve had.”

Cost of living increases are leading domestic consumers to be more cautious and make buying decisions later, he says.

“There’s likely to be lots of special offers around over the winter to encourage domestic travel. But there’s growing interest in regenerative tourism, and that’s driving consumers, domestically and internationally.”

More than 16,000 meetings between tourism operators and buyers took place at TRENZ.

The current tourism minister is the most engaged the industry’s had in a long time, and is clear about driving tourism forward, which is positive, he says.

“But the funding model is patchy, and it makes it difficult for RTOs [regional tourism organisations] to plan long term. We need a funding model where there's some continuity.

“So let’s get a national bed levy, one that goes beyond the hotels, in place - to get some continuity and certainty.”

Diverse offerings

Ben Chapman is head of destination at NorthlandNZ, and he’s at TRENZ with 10 operators representing the region and its diverse offerings.

The region has significant historical interest points, such as Waitangi, unique cultural experiences, such as the Hundertwasser Art Centre, premium sightseeing offerings on land, sea or air, and luxury accommodation, he says.

“We’re predominantly a domestic market, but we’re seeing growth in international markets, with arrivals up between 11 and about 14% over the year to date, and in that high-end sector.

“That probably off the back of some strong efforts from Tourism New Zealand, but we think there’s scope for growth there, and in that higher spending demographic as well.”

For international visitors coming is at a price point, but the weaker New Zealand dollar means they can experience incredible offerings at a reasonable price for them, he says.

“I don’t believe we're in a bad situation. TRENZ is three days of positive conversations around inbound tourism, and people wouldn't invest in being here unless they were optimistic.”

Brand awareness

Debbie Robertson is general manager of the iwi-owned Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa in Rotorua. She says the luxury spa has only been open for three years, but talking to buyers this year the growth in awareness of their brand is evident.

“With any new tourism product launching into an international space, it takes a good four years to do that, so it’s been amazing to see, and to realise people understand what we’re offering and how it differs.”

A negative narrative around the broader economic climate might exist, but international travellers are still coming to New Zealand, and there’s always peaks and troughs, she says.

“We are pretty positive, and we’re growing year-on-year so we can lean into that.

“New Zealanders are conscious of their spend and fuel costs, and there’s been a bit of a dip in some markets, but not significant enough to be hugely impactful for us.”

International demand for Queenstown tourism offerings, such as Kiwi Park remains high.

Her focus is on telling the story of the spa, the geothermal waters it shares sustainably, and the cultural experience and connection that is part of the journey their visitors go on.

Sharing their stories is something operators need to do more of, she says. “Kiwis, especially our Maori operators can be quite humble.

“But we have some beautiful Māori products out there and we need to shout that from the rooftop. Māori tourism makes a huge contribution to tourism overall, and to the economy here.”

The spa plans to continue working to enhance the unique experience it offers, but the five-star hotel planned for the neighbouring lakeside site is something they’re also looking forward to, she says.

Kiwi encounters

Looking further south, Richard Wilson hails from Kiwi Park, a 2ha wildlife sanctuary located in the heart of Queenstown. He’s the general manager of the operation started by his grandparents 40 years ago.

They run conservation shows, kiwi encounters, educational talks and now private tours for visitors, which are proving hugely popular with people who want a “one-on-one” local wildlife experience, he says.

“International visitors make up most of our market, but our domestic market is important too, and we love showing kiwi to Kiwi. That’s special.

“Despite the economic challenges, people are still flocking to Queenstown, which is in a bit of a bubble. International demand remains really strong.

“A lot of places around the world don't seem too appealing to travel to at the moment, so New Zealand's sitting in a right little sweet spot, especially Queenstown.”

Kiwi Park is passionate about sustainability, and being environmentally responsible, and there are a growing numbers of travellers who that matters to, so that helps their operation too, he says.

Wine and food

Cristina Griffith is executive managing director at Gibbston Valley, a wine and food destination near Queenstown in Central Otago. They also offer luxury accommodation, a spa and, of late, a nine-hole golf course and clubhouse.

Over the last 20 years the vineyard has been converted into a fully organic one, and sustainability and environmental care is baked into the operation at all levels, she says.

“We see this as building business resilience, so it's not just about making green decisions, it's actually about making the right decisions that allow us to continue making decisions as a going business for the next 50 years.”

While visitors respond very positively to this and the authenticity of the experience it creates, it is something they may not have realised they were looking for, she says.

“Our visitor numbers are pretty darn good. We're back past 2019 levels, and the international fights coming in from Australia now have been game changing, and we’re seeing more all-season travel.

“It's a bit quiet right now, but what quiet is now versus what quiet was two or three years ago - when off-seasons were like a ghost town - is very different.”

She isn’t discouraged by the broader geopolitical situation, and says that as someone originally from the US who has been back recently, she loves the optimism, security and comfort evident in Queenstown.

“I’m hopeful that building business resilience means we will be able to weather the cycles and the storms. We have enough of a long-term vision to know a knock here or there doesn't have to completely derail your path.”