Foreign visitors will soon be charged between $20 and $40 to access some of New Zealand’s most iconic conservation sites, in a move the Government says will raise millions to reinvest directly into maintaining the country’s natural attractions.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced the change at the National Party conference in Christchurch today, alongside plans to overhaul the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) concession system to encourage more economic use of public land.
The new charge will apply to international tourists visiting high-traffic destinations, starting with four sites: Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing, Milford Track, and Aoraki Mount Cook, where foreign visitors often make up 80 percent of all foot traffic.
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said the fee would generate up to $62 million a year, which would be reinvested into those areas to improve infrastructure, protect the environment, and support long-term access.
“Tourists make a massive contribution to our economy, and no one wants that to change,” Potaka said. “But I’ve heard from overseas friends how surprised they are to access some of the most beautiful places in the world for free. It’s only fair that, at these special locations, foreign visitors make an additional contribution.”
Luxon confirmed that New Zealanders will not be charged, saying, “It’s our collective inheritance and Kiwis shouldn’t have to pay to see it.”
Alongside the visitor charge, the Government also announced a major reform of the Conservation Act to streamline DOC’s concession system, which currently governs any business use of conservation land.
Luxon said the current regime is “totally broken,” with concession applications often taking years to process, holding up jobs and investment.
“Outdated rules mean modern E-bike tours are being denied access, and tourism on the Routeburn is being held up by bureaucratic boundaries,” he said.
The Government’s plan includes expanding opportunities for tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure on conservation land in areas deemed appropriate, while protecting sites of national significance.
“This is about saying yes to more jobs, more growth, and higher wages for all New Zealanders,” Luxon said. “We’re unlocking one third of the country’s land to be more productive where it makes sense, while protecting what matters most.”
