Cruise Aotearoa New Zealand 2040 is New Zealand’s first-ever National Cruise Strategy, released in 2024 by the New Zealand Cruise Association (NZCA)
Developed 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.
Horizon 2: Integration & Impact, is the next phase of the Cruise Aotearoa New Zealand 2040 strategy, setting out a nationally coordinated plan to rebuild cruise deployment and position New Zealand as a globally competitive cruise destination.
With deployment enablement as the organising principle Horizon 2 evolves from urgent deployment enablement (2026) through sustained delivery with capability development (2027/28) to world-class operations as business-as-usual (2029/30), positioning New Zealand as a consistent, trusted partner.
Key Principles and Goals
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.
Aspirational 2040 Goals
- 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.
Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to shape a sustainable and prosperous future for New Zealand’s cruise industry.