Overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand totalled 3.51 million in 2025, up 195,600 (6 percent) from 2024, according to data released by Stats NZ.
“The December 2025 year was the first annual period to exceed 3.5 million overseas visitor arrivals since the March 2020 year,” international travel spokesperson Bryan Downes said. “The increase in overseas visitors to New Zealand in 2025 coincided with a 4 percent increase in flights into the country compared with 2024.”
Australia led the increase in visitor arrivals in 2025, up 136,500 (10 percent) from 2024. This was followed by the United States, up 15,200 (4 percent), and China, up 13,300 (5 percent).
The 1.52 million visitor arrivals from Australia in 2025 was the highest for a year since February 2020, aided by a December 2025 month which saw arrivals from Australia exceed 200,000 for the first time.
The 384,900 overseas visitor arrivals from the United States in 2025 was a record for the year.
Total annual visitor arrivals in 2025 were 90 percent of the level they had been in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Holidaymakers drive increase in overseas visitors
“Holidaymakers were the main driver of the annual increase in overseas visitor arrivals in 2025 from 2024, followed by those visiting friends or relatives,” Downes said.
Of visitors who stated a main reason for travelling to New Zealand in 2025, over half (1.79 million) reported a holiday or vacation. This was up 193,300, or 12 percent, from the year before.
Visiting friends or relatives was the second most common reason for travel, given by one-third (1.08 million) of visitors. This was up 50,100, or 5 percent, on the year before.
Additional seasonal flights
RNZ reported that the country’s two main international airports both reported additional seasonal flights for the peak summer period for tourism in New Zealand.
Auckland Airport, the main gateway for overseas visitors, said in December that international capacity for the 2025/26 summer was up nearly 4 percent (207,000 seats) on the 2024/25 period.
Christchurch Airport said in November it expected a record summer season in 2025/26, with international capacity up 15 percent on the prior year.
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