The New Zealand Cruise Association (NZCA) proudly presents New Zealand’s first-ever National Cruise Strategy: Cruise Aotearoa New Zealand 2040.

Developed over the past year with extensive input from industry, regions, ports, cruise lines, government agencies, and other stakeholders, this strategy sets a 16-year course towards a visitor-focused cruise sector, enhancing New Zealand through contributions to the economy, environment, and community.

Our strategy focuses on three key principles: driving value, empowering partnerships, and continuous improvement. By working through three strategic horizons, we aim to foster collaboration among government, industry, communities, and ports to achieve balanced outcomes across the cruise and tourism ecosystem.

• Economic: $1 billion direct cruise expenditure contribution by 2040.
• Environmental: Net carbon zero tourism supply chain by 2040, and by 2050 for cruise lines.
• Visitor: 90% satisfaction rate among international cruise visitors and a 90% average NPS score for New Zealand regions.
• Community: Cruise tourism supports and benefits iwi, with 90% of New Zealanders viewing cruise tourism positively.

• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Unlocking valuable data to inform decisions and support infrastructure business cases.
• Strategic Communications: Building support and awareness with a consistent, positive narrative.
• Government Engagement: Aligning with national priorities through strong relationships with government agencies.
• Sector Partnerships: Leveraging partnerships to create a robust New Zealand cruise system.
• Operational Integration: Establishing best practices for national consistency, improving efficiency, reducing community impact, and enhancing the visitor experience.

Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to shape a sustainable and prosperous future for New Zealand’s cruise industry.