Visitor Arrivals Up In March

Visitor arrivals to New Zealand totalled 358,900 in March 2026, up 47,100 (15 percent) compared with March 2025, according to data released by Stats NZ today.

"The 358,900 visitor arrivals in March 2026 were the highest for a March month since 2019," international travel statistics spokesperson Bryan Downes said.

There were 378,300 visitor arrivals in March 2019. The record for a March month is 388,300, in 2018.

The largest increases in March 2026, compared with March 2025, were in visitors from:

• Australia (up 24,100 to 138,400)
• China (up 4,200 to 24,600)
• the United States (up 4,100 to a March month record of 53,400)
• the United Kingdom (up 3,500 to 22,200).

"The increase in Australian visitors follows an 18 percent increase in flights between New Zealand and Australia in March 2026, compared with March 2025. This includes four more direct routes from mid-2025," Downes said.

The largest decrease in visitor arrivals in March 2026 was from Germany, down 700 from March 2025 to 7,800.

International travel between New Zealand and the Middle East

Conflict in the Middle East from late February 2026 saw interruptions to direct flights between New Zealand and countries in that region.

There were no direct flights to and from Qatar from 1 March 2026 and fewer direct flights to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In March 2026, New Zealand had 1,400 arrivals of overseas visitors on direct flights from the UAE (there were no direct flights from Qatar). This compares with 10,300 visitor arrivals on direct flights from the UAE and Qatar combined in March 2025.

The largest falls in arrivals on direct flights from the Middle East in March 2026 were in visitors from the United Kingdom (down 3,000 to 400) and Germany (down 1,400 to 100), compared with March 2025.

"Arrivals of visitors from the United Kingdom were up overall in March 2026, compared with March 2025, despite the disruption to direct flights from the Middle East," Downes said.

For visitors from the United Kingdom in March 2026, the largest increases in arrivals were via the United States (up 2,300 to 3,100) and Singapore (up 1,400 to 4,700).

Lift in Chinese citizens visiting from Australia

Since November 2025, as part of a 12-month Immigration New Zealand trial, eligible Chinese passport holders travelling to New Zealand from Australia no longer need a New Zealand visitor visa.

In the five months from November 2025 to March 2026, there were 189,200 arrivals of visitors on a Chinese passport. Of these, 76,300 (40 percent) arrived in New Zealand from a port in Australia.

This compares with 129,300 in the five months from November 2024 to March 2025, of which 32,300 (25 percent) arrived from a port in Australia.

Country of citizenship is the nationality of passport used to arrive in or depart from New Zealand and is not necessarily the country of previous or next residence.

Visa free travel from Australia to New Zealand for Chinese visitors on the Immigration New Zealand website has more information on the trial.