Boost for New Zealand tourism as Chinese visitors gain visa-free access from Australia: ministers

New Zealand's tourism sector, the country's second-largest export, is poised for growth following a government announcement that Chinese visitors can now travel visa-free from Australia to New Zealand, senior officials said Monday.

The New Zealand government unveiled the policy aimed at increasing the number of tourists and supporting regional businesses, said Immigration Minister Erica Stanford.

China ranks as New Zealand's third-largest tourism market, with nearly 250,000 arrivals in the year ending July 2025. The new visa rule is expected to attract up to 50,000 additional Chinese visitors annually traveling via Australia, Stanford said.

This change simplifies travel, making it easier and cheaper for Chinese tourists to experience New Zealand's attractions, she said, adding the government has also expedited visa processing, now averaging four days, and removed requirements for certified translations of visitor visa documents.

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said that smoother, more seamless travel will encourage more Chinese tourists to make New Zealand part of their next holiday, which will benefit both tourism and the economy, strengthen trade and business ties, and offer Chinese visitors access to New Zealand's unique landscapes and Kiwi hospitality.