West Coast Tourism Industry Update - August 2025

Changes Announced for Chinese Passport Holders

In June, there was a series of announcements from the Government that will make it easier for Chinese travellers to visit and transit through Aotearoa New Zealand

From November, a 12-month trial will allow Chinese passport holders with a valid Australia visitor, work or student visa to travel to New Zealand from Australia without applying for a visitor visa.

Instead, they will need to request an NZeTA enabling them to stay as a tourist for up to 3 months.

Also from November, Chinese nationals will be able to transit through New Zealand on a Transit NZeTA, without having to apply for a separate transit visa. Valid for 2 years, the change means people will be able to travel multiple times without needing to apply for a new visa.

Both initiatives remove time and cost barriers for Chinese holiday makers, and were announced alongside news of a new route from China to South America via Auckland, which is expected to significantly boost the number of passengers that choose to transit through New Zealand.

For more information check out the Immigration New Zealand factsheets:

• Trial of Australian visa recognition for eligible Chinese visitors
• Transit visa changes for eligible Chinese travellers

The Legendary Coasters App is Live!

Step into the wild, witty world of Westland’s most unforgettable characters.

Explore the app, follow the Legend Trails, and hear these local legends tell their stories in their own words — right where history happened.

Each of the seven historical characters has their own trail through Hokitika. Wander the town with your phone in hand, and talking images of the characters will lead you to key places in their story.

Every trail ends at the brand-new Talking Wall at Hokitika Museum — where the legends come to life. Scan the QR codes and hear from the characters themselves, right where history meets technology.

legendarycoasters.co.nz

Tourism Industry Aotearoa - Operator to Operator discounts

The TIA Member Benefits Brochure is packed with awesome deals. With discounts offered by tourism operators, for tourism operators, these offers make it easy to support each other while enjoying some well-earned perks regardless of whether for business or leisure.

If you are a member, head to the Member Benefits section of MyTIA for details on how to access.

Remember, these benefits aren’t just for you, they’re available to EVERYONE in your organisation. So, whether it’s your frontline crew, admin staff, or management team, TIA encourages you to share the brochure widely so your whole team can make the most of what’s on offer.

Not a TIA member yet? Learn more about the benefits and how to join at tia.org.nz/membership

New Bridge Reconnects West Coast Wilderness Trail

A new cycle bridge over the Totara River will soon restore full access to the West Coast Wilderness Trail—one of Aotearoa’s Great Rides.

The Totara River Rail Bridge, a few kilometres north of Ross, has been closed for structural assessment and repairs since August 2024, cutting off the final 15km section of trail between Ross and the West Coast Treetop Walkway and Zipline. 

This has meant that while cyclists can still enjoy parts of the trail, they currently cannot reach Ross. So the township, along with the wider region, is missing out on valuable visitor spending.

This investment is part of the first stage of the Government’s Tourism Growth Roadmap, which also includes additional international marketing funding and other activity to encourage more international visitors to New Zealand. 

Lara Thomas, Tourism & Events Executive

Maia Peart-Anderson, Tourism Marketing Executive