Tourist arrivals have surpassed 3.5 million for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Stats NZ data.
This surge was fuelled by a sharp rise in visitors from Australia.
Overseas visitor arrivals reached 3.51 million in the year to December 2025, a 6% increase from the previous year.
The agency noted this marked the first annual total exceeding 3.5 million since the year ended March 2020. However, total annual visitor arrivals stood at 90% of 2019 pre-Covid levels.
Australia remained the top source of visitors, up 10% from 2024, followed by the United States and China.
Australia led with over 1.5 million tourist arrivals in 2025, followed by 385,000 from the United States and 262,000 from China.
“Holidaymakers were the main driver of the annual increase in overseas visitor arrivals in 2025 from 2024, followed by those visiting friends or relatives,” Stats NZ international travel spokesperson Bryan Downes said.
“The increase in overseas visitors to New Zealand in 2025 coincided with a 4% increase in flights into the country compared with 2024.”
New Zealand’s two primary international airports added seasonal flights for the peak summer tourism period.
Auckland Airport reported in December that international capacity for the 2025/26 summer rose nearly 4% (207,000 seats) from the prior year. Christchurch Airport announced in November it anticipates a record summer season in 2025/26, with international capacity up 15% from the previous year.