Overseas visitor spending accounted for more than 80% of the growth in New Zealand’s services exports in the March 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ.
Services exports rose $1.6 billion, or 17%, to $11.5b in the year to March, driven largely by spending from international visitors and students. Travel services exports increased $1.3b, or 23%, to $7b compared with the March 2025 quarter.
Travel exports measure expenditure on goods and services by overseas travellers while they are in New Zealand.
“Travel services accounted for more than 80% of the increase in total services exports in the March 2026 quarter,” international accounts spokesperson Viki Ward said.
“March quarters are the peak for expenditure on travel services.”
