Cruise liner guests will be charged $20 less for taking a trip to and from New Zealand.
Customs Minister Casey Costello revealed Friday modifications to the Border Processing Levy, which was anticipated to recuperate $124.3 million in Customs’ border processing expenditures in 2026/27.
From 1 July 2027, getting here cruise travelers will pay $7.20, below $27.14. Leaving passegers will pay 71 cents, up by 3 cents.
New Zealand Cruise Association president Jacqui Lloyd stated the statement was “incredibly helpful going forward” as one action towards assisting the market.
Lloyd stated the cruise market was accountable for one in 10 travelers pertaining to the nation.
She stated cruise lines were restricting the number of New Zealand port calls, bringing less guests as an outcome.
Customs Minister Casey Costello.
RNZ/Marika Khabazi
She stated there were a number of elements adding to the decrease, such as trouble in getting slots for docking in Sydney – where cruises frequently begin and complete.
“And so it does mean that there’s a reduction in port calls around New Zealand as itineraries get shortened because they need to leave Sydney and get back to Sydney at a certain time.”
Another problem was expense: Lloyd approximated it might cost $650,000 for a ship with 3000 guests to do about 8 port calls around New Zealand in federal government and port costs.
“There are Maritime New Zealand fees going into every single port in New Zealand. There is also oil pollution levy for every single port in New Zealand that is through Maritime New Zealand. You’ve also got a broader border levies, which we’ve just been discussing around Customs and MPI .
“And after that the ports likewise, obviously, will be crediting berth in each of their ports. Numerous do a per traveler cost, however they’re likewise charging for security, gangways, staffing, bollards, all sorts of things that require to occur for the operation for a ship to come into a port.”
She said New Zealand had been viewed as one of the most expensive places for cruise lines to visit.
But Lloyd said work between government and ports would bring about positive change.
“We’ve had some excellent news out of Maritime New Zealand who are holding their levies for the next couple of years. MPI are doing the very same. We likewise have Customs now with their brand-new rates.”
She clarified that new government departments’ rates had not been set solely for the benefit of the cruise industry, but that they were beneficial.
It might also take a few years for the benefits to appear, as cruise lines booked their itineraries years in advance, so companies wouldn’t be lured back instantaneously, she explained.
She said this kind of cross-agency collaboration was necessary for the industry’s future.
“It’s been … to truly open the discussion in between all the sectors and truly make certain that individuals aren’t running in silos and produce some excellent conversation and awareness on what any type of modification, how that may impact other parts of the sector.”
But ultimately, what was needed, she said, was certainty.
“The cruise lines require certainty for preparation. They require to understand when there is going to be a boost in expenses or a modification in policy and they require to understand early so that they can put that into their budget plans and their preparation for future release.
“But also our tourism sector and our port sector need certainty. They need to know that the cruise lines are still coming to New Zealand so they can ensure that they can invest in infrastructure and also in workforce and so on.”
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