What does TRENZ tell us about tourism in New Zealand?
New Zealand’s premier travel and tourism show has attracted 379 buyers from 27 countries, the highest since 2019 and a strong signal that New Zealand is in demand.
Of the 315 New Zealand tourism businesses represented, 33 operators are new to TRENZ. That’s a 60% increase on last year. Chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, Rebecca Ingram, views that as a strong signal of industry confidence and focus.
“When you look at who’s on the show floor this week, you get a real picture of where New Zealand tourism is right now,” Ingram says.
Wellness and restorative experiences are represented strongly across regions. It’s one of New Zealand’s genuine national strengths. International demand for slow, restorative travel is meeting a need that New Zealand is well placed to deliver.
There are 35 Māori tourism businesses at TRENZ 2026, up again from last year.
“What they offer is central to how international visitors experience NZ,” Ingram says.
Food and wine tourism is another sector with genuine breadth – from cellar doors, lodge stays, dining experiences and curated touring. It’s a substantive part of the modern Kiwi offering.
As is water…
Marine and water-based experiences are hot. Ingram says that more than a quarter of the new sellers at TRENZ this year are offering kayak, cruise, ocean adventure or harbour tours.
“It is the connection to nature that runs through almost everything. Wildlife, conservation, geothermal, forests – whether it’s Zealandia in Wellington, Sanctuary Mountain in Waikato, or the Royal Albatross Centre in Dunedin, connecting with New Zealand’s natural environment is a core part of the offering.
TRENZ 2026 will see 16,000 meetings over 2.5 days and deliver at least NZ $3 million to Auckland as the host region.
It takes place against an encouraging global backdrop. Worldwide, tourism is currently experiencing record-breaking growth.
The travel and tourism sector is growing faster than the global economy, contributing a record US$11.6 trillion to global GDP in 2025 –almost 10% of the global economy.
By Peter Needham at TRENZ 2026 in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland – (c) 2026.
Read Time: 2 minutes.
About the Author.
With more than 35 years in travel journalism, Peter Needham has filed stories from Fleet Street to Fiji, and just about everywhere in between. As Managing Editor (Australasia) for Global Travel Media, he shapes industry coverage with the steady hand of someone who’s seen fashions come and go and knows what lasts.
Since going freelance in 1993, his byline has appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Financial Review, Reader’s Digest, and Qantas’ in-flight magazines. He edited Inside Tourism for seven years, wrote the long-running Travel Tales column for Vacations & Travel, and even crafted copy for Tourism Australia ahead of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
A Reuters, Guardian and AAP veteran, Peter has travelled widely from South American backpacking trails to a Saudi military hospital, gathering stories the old-fashioned way: by being there.
