Regional Tourism Boost Fund recipients (Round 2)
Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) have been awarded $9.6 million of funding from the Regional Tourism Boost Fund - Round 2.
On this page I tēnei whārangi
North Island
Kiwi North
Funding received: $2,500,000
RTOs involved
RotoruaNZ (lead), Northland Inc, Tataki Auckland Unlimited, Destination Hauraki Coromandel, Tourism Bay of Plenty, Hamilton and Waikato Tourism, Tairawhiti Gisborne, Destination Great Lake Taupo, Visit Ruapehu, Venture Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay Tourism, Whanganui and Partners, Central Economic Development Agency (Manawatu), Destination Wairarapa and WellingtonNZ.
Project - stages 1 and 2
To encourage Australian visitors primarily from the eastern seaboard of Australia, and Chinese travellers eligible under the Australia-New Zealand visa trial, to visit travel, stay and dine in the North Island.
CTRIP
Funding received: $2,025,000
RTOs involved
RotoruaNZ (lead), Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and WellingtonNZ
Project - stages 1 and 2
To deliver a large-scale digital marketing and conversion campaign through Ctrip, China’s leading online travel agency, to drive visitation from China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea, to New Zealand’s North Island.
South-west North Island
One Flight
Funding received: $459,250
RTOs involved
Hamilton And Waikato Tourism (lead), Destination Great Lake Taupo, Visit Ruapehu and Venture Taranaki.
Project - stage 2
This project is based on the new Jetstar trans-Tasman directly to Hamilton Airport from Sydney and Coolangatta. It will extend the scope, reach, audience and media-buy for the Autumn 2026 One Flight campaign to cover the south-west neighbouring drive-distance regions – Waikato, Taupo, Ruapehu, Taranaki and Waitomo., encouraging regional dispersal and providing a compelling reason to visit off-peak.
South Island
Southern Way
Funding received: $393,500
RTOs involved
Great South (lead), Tourism Waitaki, Enterprise Dunedin, Clutha Development, Tourism Central Otago, Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism.
Project - stage 1
The project is to capitalise on the Gold Coast market in Australia to stimulate visitation, dining, and tourism experiences, enhance regional dispersal across the southern regions of New Zealand.
Southern Way
Funding received: $459,250
RTOs involved
Great South (lead), Tourism Waitaki, Enterprise Dunedin, Clutha Development, Tourism Central Otago, Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism.
Project - stage 2
To drive visitation from the Gold Coast market, capitalising on the existing momentum to further stimulate visitation, dining and diverse tourism experiences across the Southern regions of New Zealand through the autumn and into early winter. It will deliver an “open-jaw” proposition using the new Jetstar route to Dunedin and Queenstown airports and continue to showcase food and beverage stories of the region and expand the portfolio of packages through themed itineraries.
Central South Island
Discover Different
Funding received: $1,000,000
RTOs involved
ChristchurchNZ (lead), Destination Kaikoura, Visit Hurunui, Venture Timaru, Mackenzie Tourism and Development West Coast.
Project - stage 2
The project is to further increase international visitation from the eastern seaboard of Australia and South Australia to Christchurch, Canterbury and the West Coast to drive economic uplift, enhance regional dispersal and position the region as a premier destination for Australian visitors. It refreshes the initial campaign from a winter focus to a broader seasonal appeal to capture the essence of both autumn and winter.
Central New Zealand
Classic New Zealand Wine Trail
Funding received: $991,000
RTOs involved
WellingtonNZ (lead), Hawke’s Bay Tourism, Destination Wairarapa and Destination Marllborough..
Project - stages 1 and 2
The project is to promote the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail, an established regional initiative which will showcase wine, food and tourism activities in these regions.
National
North America
Funding received: $1,172,000
RTOs involved
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (lead), Northland Inc, Destination Hauraki Coromandel, Tourism Bay of Plenty, Hamilton and Waikato Tourism, RotoruaNZ, Tairawhiti Gisborne, Destination Great Lake Taupo, Visit Ruapehu, Venture Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay Tourism, Whanganui and Partners, Central Economic Development Agency (Manawatu), Destination Wairarapa, WellingtonNZ, Destination Marlborough, Nelson Tasman, Visit Hurunui, Destination Kaikoura, Development West Coast, ChristchurchNZ, Mackenzie Tourism, Venture Timaru, Tourism Waitaki, Destination Queenstown, Lake Wanaka Tourism, Tourism Central Otago, Enterprise Dunedin, Great South, Clutha Development and Tourism Chatham Islands.
Project - stages 1 and 2
The project is a collaborative New Zealand wide approach to attract North American visitors to travel, stay and dine in New Zealand.
Cycle Aotearoa
Funding received: $600,0000
RTOs involved
Destination Great Lake Taupo (lead), RotoruaNZ, Mackenzie Tourism, Tourism Central Otago, all RTOs.
Project - stage 2
Cycle Aotearoa positions New Zealand as a world-class leisure cycling destination targeting Australians to drive international cycling visitation, hospitality growth and regional dispersal across New Zealand.