Regulation in the tourism system
This page describes the tourism system, its objectives and the role of regulation in the system. It also outlines changes to regulation either planned or in progress.
On this page
System description and objectives
The tourism system is a major contributor to the New Zealand economy. Tourism is New Zealand’s largest export industry in terms of foreign exchange earnings, and employs one in seven Kiwis. Tourism seeks to distribute economic opportunities and bring social benefits across our regions, cities and communities.
Tourism brings secondary benefits to New Zealand communities, including:
- Helping to build deeper international connections, which enable other exporters to tailor and market their products and services to those markets
- Building awareness of New Zealand as a supplier of quality products in the international marketplace
- Social understanding and integration across local communities
- The benefits that accrue from the additional scale that visitor flows create, for example, infrastructure development and the availability of a wider range of goods and services in particular locations.
Various organisations are involved in tourism in New Zealand, including Government departments, regional and Māori tourism organisations, marketing networks formed by private operators, and industry associations that represent operators from across the different sectors of the tourism industry.
The Government’s role in the tourism sector is primarily as a steward of the tourism system, which it does through setting strategy and providing funding to promote New Zealand as a tourism destination and to build facilities and infrastructure to support visitor experiences. Regulation specific to tourism plays a relatively minor role in the system and there is minimal regulation specific to tourism businesses.
Ministerial portfolios and key statutes
| Portfolio | Statutes |
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System agencies and their roles
| Agency | Role |
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MBIE |
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Department of Conservation and Ministry of Culture and Heritage |
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Ministry of Transport and NZTA |
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Local authorities |
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Department of Internal Affairs |
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Immigration NZ |
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Agencies and statutory entities created by MBIE-owned legislation
| Agency | Role |
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Tourism New Zealand |
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New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute |
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Collaboration and information-sharing between system agencies
Chief executives of key central government agencies make up the Tourism Chief Executives’ Group. This group provides a mechanism for cross‐agency coordination and strategic oversight of government agencies’ tourism‐related activities. It takes a proactive approach to identifying and addressing short‐term pressures, ensuring the tourism system can respond to growth in the medium‐term and setting a long-term vision for the tourism system.
Numerous informal mechanisms also exist to exchange information and collaborate on policy between agencies with an interest in tourism.
Regulated parties and main stakeholders
Regulated parties
The primary purpose of the tourism-related legislation administered by MBIE is not to regulate parties – it is enabling legislation which establishes two key organisations in the tourism sector.
Under the Immigration Act provisions for the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, regulated parties will include most people entering New Zealand on a temporary basis. There are several exceptions.
Further information about the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy
Main stakeholders
The main stakeholders in the tourism system include:
- industry associations
- local government bodies
- Māori and regional tourism organisations
- international tourism bodies.
Processes for engagement with stakeholders
MBIE follows best practice for strategy and policy development and publishes consultation documents and holds public meetings to seek feedback on proposals. We also engage extensively with tourism stakeholders, through both regular forums and ad hoc meetings.
Planned regulatory changes
International visitor conservation and tourism levy
The Government is implementing an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) to ensure our international visitors contribute to the infrastructure they use and help protect and enhance the natural environment they enjoy.
The levy has been set at $35 per person, and is expected to raise over $450 million over 5 years. Collection commenced on 1 July 2019. The levy is collected alongside visa applications and the new Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). The ETA is for travellers from visitor visa waiver countries and Australian residents (Australian citizens are exempt). From 1 October 2019, these travellers are required to hold an ETA in order to board their flight or disembark their cruise vessel. Requests for an ETA were made available from 1 July 2019.
Responsible camping
The Minister of Tourism established a Responsible Camping Working Group in 2018 to develop solutions to responsible camping issues. The Responsible Camping Working Group made a number of recommendations in their report, which address both short- and long-term issues. MBIE is working with agencies, councils and industry to progress the longer-term recommendations from the Working Group. This involves analysing both non-legislative and legislative options.
Planned service and operational changes
In May 2019, the Government released its New Zealand-Aotearoa Government Tourism Strategy, which aims to deliver benefits to New Zealanders through productive, sustainable and inclusive tourism growth. The strategy sets out the role Government proposes to play both as an actor and steward of the tourism system and the Government’s aim for tourism – to enrich New Zealand through sustainable tourism growth.