New Zealand’s trial visa policy relaxing entry requirements for Chinese travellers arriving via Australia is delivering strong early results, with the country recording a sharp rebound in Chinese visitation and reshaping inbound travel patterns.

Speaking to TTG Asia during TRENZ in Auckland, Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) CEO Rene de Monchy said the policy, introduced last November for a 12-month trial period, had accelerated demand from China by allowing eligible travellers to enter New Zealand using their Australian visa.

The results midway through the trial have been significant. Between November 2025 and March 2026, 59,000 Chinese visitors arrived in New Zealand via Australia, either as a transit stop or part of a dual-destination itinerary, representing year-on-year growth of at least 144 per cent. This compared with 42 per cent growth in overall Chinese arrivals during the same period.

“What we’ve seen is direct travel to New Zealand growing, while travel via Australia is also growing,” said de Monchy. “It has actually lifted the desire for New Zealand overall, not just those coming through Australia.”

The new visa pathway is also improving access to regional New Zealand.

“If you come through Australia, you can fly directly into Dunedin, Hamilton, Queenstown, Christchurch and Wellington,” de Monchy said.

The rebound is particularly important given China’s role in New Zealand’s visitor economy. China remains one of the country’s three largest international visitor markets, alongside Australia and the US, together accounting for 65 per cent of international tourism spending.

Winter tourism and ski travel are also seeing strong growth, particularly following increased interest in snow holidays after the Beijing Winter Olympics. Tourism New Zealand has stepped up winter campaigns across Asia, especially in China, while also recording encouraging growth from South-east Asia, Japan and South Korea.

He added that Air New Zealand’s newly announced Singapore-Christchurch service, launching in late October, would further strengthen New Zealand’s appeal as part of a multi-destination itinerary with Australia.

According to TNZ regional director for Asia Greg Wafelbakker, the rebound from China is being driven not only by easier access, but also by changing traveller behaviour following the pandemic.

“We’ve gone from more traditional group travel to much more immersive travel,” said Shanghai-based Wafelbakker. “People are looking for a deeper connection with the places they visit.”

He said Chinese travellers are increasingly seeking “slow travel” experiences, spending more time exploring regions at their own pace rather than following tightly packed itineraries. The trend aligns closely with New Zealand’s strengths as a self-drive and nature destination.

Wafelbakker added that FIT, family and small-group travel are now driving the strongest growth from China, replacing the large, price-sensitive group tours that dominated before the pandemic.

The market is also becoming more segmented, with strong growth from both younger travellers seeking immersive experiences and “silver” travellers aged over 50 with more time and spending power.

“They’re coming to explore and stay longer,” said Wafelbakker. “There’s a much deeper desire now to connect with the people and the place.”

Despite the rebound, de Monchy noted that the China market is still operating at about 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, leaving room for further growth.