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The New Zealand Tourism Awards showcase and celebrate individual and business success across our industry. Brought to you by Tourism Industry Aotearoa in association with key industry partners, the Awards provide a benchmark for excellence. 

There is still time to enter the New Zealand Tourism Awards 2023, with entries closing on Thursday 6 July.  

How do these Awards help your business succeed?  

For finalists and winners, the Awards can help raise the profile of your operation, enhance staff morale and provide recognition for your achievements from your industry peers. 

We caught up with some of last year’s winners to see how the awards have affected their business journeys since then. 

Nadine Toe Toe, Kohutapu Lodge, says: “Since the awards, I have been invited to sit on various boards to provide our ‘flax roots’ opinions, to speak truthfully and to share ideas and create opportunities. I have been invited to speak at World Summits, to share our story on our Community and our Regenerative Tourism business, which in turn helps lift our national and indigenous profiles on a world stage.” 
Winner: Community Engagement and Regenerative Tourism Awards 2022

Nigel Hobbs, Altitude Tours, says: “It was huge recognition for the hard work and creative thinking we did to not only survive through COVID but also power out the other side. An opportunity to stand in front of the best tourism minds and businesses in the country and receive the award was something special and a hugely exhilarating experience. The awards process has given us an opportunity to stop and reflect, it has opened doors with new agent partners all over the world.” 
Winner: Resilience & Innovation Award 2022

Matt Wong, iFLY Indoor Skydiving Queenstown, says: “It has been a truly transformative experience for our business. It has solidified our position as a leader in the industry, attracting top talent, enhancing guest satisfaction, and fostering a culture of excellence. This prestigious recognition will continue to inspire us to raise the bar and create an even better workplace for our employees, ensuring that we remain an employer of choice in the years to come.” 
Winner: Employer of Choice Award 2022

Garth Solly, The Landing, says: “It was a moment of great pride and cause for celebration for our team. The protection and conservation of Aotearoa’s unique and beautiful environment and culture are values that are intrinsic to our work and offering, and to have our efforts recognised at the highest level in New Zealand’s tourism industry has been deeply validating and encouraging.
Winner: Conservation Award 2022

Alex Dykman of Maverick Digital, says: “It has been fantastic validation of my efforts and progress in tourism to date. It’s given me confidence that I’m moving in the right direction, empowering me to be a better leader and inspiring me to push boundaries and work on new initiatives. Specifically, it’s worked to grow awareness of the awesome impact we make at Maverick Digital and created a large amount of support for our new startup, Grow Tourism.”
Winner: Emerging Tourism Leader Award 2022

About the New Zealand Tourism Awards 2023 

The New Zealand Tourism Awards are open to both members and non-members of TIA. 

Three awards for individuals are open to outstanding performers in the industry, and ten awards recognise business excellence, industry alignment and organisations that are living the values of the Tourism Sustainability Commitment (TSC).   

There are two reintroduced categories this year, the Supreme Tourism Award and the Tourism Excellence Award, which honours high-achieving operators committed to the Tourism Sustainability Commitment’s standards and have regenerative ambitions. The Supreme Tourism Award, the tourism industry’s highest accolade, will be selected by an expert judging panel from the nine business award winners.

Other award categories include Community Engagement, Employer of Choice, Environment, Industry Collaboration and Alignment, He Toa Takitini Māori Tourism, Resilience and Innovation and Visitor Experience. Individual categories include Tourism Industry Champion, Emerging Tourism Leader, and the Sir Jack Newman Award. 

Categories and criteria can be found on the New Zealand Tourism Awards website. Once you’ve decided which Awards to enter, complete the entry form on the website and you’ll be sent a link to the relevant submission forms. 

Winners will be announced at the New Zealand Tourism Awards dinner on 7 November at Tākina in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, following the Tourism Summit Aotearoa.   

Tickets to the New Zealand Tourism Awards dinner will be available to purchase soon. 

Find out more and view categories on the New Zealand Tourism Awards website.

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Dive! Tutukaka founder Jeroen Jongejans was posthumously awarded the Sir Jack Newman Outstanding Industry Leader Award, which was accepted on Thursday evening at Claudelands in Hamilton by partner Kate Malcolm.

Jongejans, aged 63, passed away suddenly due to a medical event in February while paddleboarding in Tūtūkākā Harbour.

The industry stalwart worked in dive tourism for 30 years, running Dive! Tutukaka and a portfolio of tourism businesses alongside Malcolm.

“I accepted the Sir Jack Newman award on behalf of Jeroen, which was really special. I was totally honoured and humbled to be able to accept it on his behalf – I was so proud,” Malcolm told the Ticker.

“Unbeknownst to me, our daughter Esther actually nominated Jeroen so she totally honoured him completely. It’s just so nice for him to be recognised in such a way.”

Malcolm described Jongejans as “irrepressible and absolutely driven”.

“He ran for [regional] council in Northland – he was a [former] Whangārei district councillor – and his campaign was a bright orange billboard with ‘positively positive’ on it – that’s just totally him,” she said.

“At every TRENZ or tourism awards, he’d be the first to look at new up-and-coming businesses and he would make a point of going across and actively giving them a boost and telling them that they’re awesome and giving them that positive essence to help keep them going. He would always be the guy who would always be the cheerleader.”

Had Jongejans been the one going on stage on Thursday evening, what would he have said?

“He would have just said this is the best industry to be in and it’s been hard times but you just have to keep moving forward and keep enabling tourism to be a positive platform for everybody, not just as a tourism business but for the wider community too, for all people,” Malcolm said.

“Tourism has the tentacles to go into everywhere and I think he would have spoken around that and how positive tourism is and how it is a platform that can effect change and how he wanted everyone to make a difference.

“He would have been celebrating the fact that we have come out the other side of the last two years and that it’s onwards and upwards and let’s work together and go for it.”

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Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours has won the top award at the New Zealand Tourism Awards 2022.

The Māori-owned operator, based at Murupara in the Bay of Plenty, picked up the new Airbnb Regenerative Tourism Award, which recognises a tourism business that has the wellbeing of communities at its heart, with an excellent visitor experience at its core.

The prize was the most prestigious to be bestowed at the awards dinner at Claudelands in Kirikiriroa Hamilton last night, hosted by Tourism Industry Aotearoa.

Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours, run by Karl and Nadine ToeToe, also won the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust Community Engagement Award.

“It was humbling to hear how Kohutapu Lodge works closely with its community to ensure the business is living and breathing regenerative tourism, from educating visitors about te ao Māori to ensuring the survival of the longfin tuna,” said TIA chief executive Rebecca Ingram.

TIA said this year’s awards recognise individuals and organisations that are living the values of the Tourism Sustainability Commitment and celebrate environmentally sustainable and forward-thinking tourism businesses that embrace kaitiakitanga, or guardianship.

Among the evening’s winners were Jeroen Jongejans, who was posthumously awarded the Sir Jack Newman Outstanding Industry Leader Award, John Barrett of Kapiti Island Nature Tours, who picked up the Marsh Tourism Industry Champion Award, and Maverick Digital founder Alex Dykman, who won the PATA New Zealand Trust Emerging Leader Award.

iFLY Indoor Skydiving NZ Ltd in Queenstown took home the Tourism Talent Employer of Choice Award, Hollyford Wilderness Experience won the NZME Visitor Experience Award, and East by West Ferries in Wellington won the Environment Award.

“It was an absolute honour to witness so many incredible leaders and inspirational businesses being recognised for their hard work as we move into more optimistic times,” said Ingram.

“These businesses are leading the way and showing how our tourism industry can positively contribute to our communities while giving back more than it takes.”

The full list of New Zealand Tourism Awards 2022 winners:

The Airbnb Regenerative Tourism Award was won by Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours, which recognises a tourism business that has an excellent visitor experience at its core and is a profitable enterprise that shows a high level of responsibility and community care. 

The Sir Jack Newman Outstanding Industry Leader Award was awarded posthumously to Jeroen Jongejans. The late Jeroen was described as “a longtime campaigner for Northland tourism and Tutukaka Coast’s biggest cheerleader, a trailblazer and an entrepreneur”.

The Marsh Tourism Industry Champion Award was won by John Barrett of Kapiti Island Nature Tours, an outstanding individual who has dedicated his career to championing eco-tourism.

The PATA New Zealand Trust Emerging Leader Award was awarded to Alex Dykman, founder of Maverick Digital and co-founder of Grow Tourism. Judges said Alex is an inspirational tourism leader who has become the industry’s ‘go to’ person for all things digital.

The Tourism Talent Employer of Choice Award was won for the second year in a row by iFLY Indoor Skydiving NZ Ltd in Queenstown. “Examples abound of an inclusive environment, happy staff, happy customers, and the passion and leadership shown by the owner who puts staff welfare above everything else,” said the judges.

The Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust Community Engagement Award was picked up by Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours. Despite losing 98% of their business due to Covid, they continued to focus on the community, including opening two new ventures and running life-changing soft skills courses for rangatahi.

The Department of Conservation – Conservation Award was won by The Landing, a Bay of Islands coastal property judges described as “extraordinary” following the planting of 1.25 million trees and significant improvements to kiwi habitat and population.

The Environment Award was won by East by West Ferries in Wellington for launching the Southern Hemisphere’s first zero-emission, fully electric, fast passenger ferry, which judges described as “a low intensity operation that screams ‘the future’.”

The Tourism New Zealand Industry Collaboration Award was won by Regional Tourism New Zealand for its Te Ūnga Mai programme, which is leading work to create a more regenerative tourism system by upskilling Regional Tourism Organisations.  

The NZME Visitor Experience Award was picked up by the Hollyford Wilderness Experience for its immersive off-grid experience which weaves in tikanga and te reo to provide visitors with a powerful insight into the land.

The Westpac Resilience and Innovation Award was won by Queenstown’s Altitude Tours. Judges noted the excellent work in coordinating with other tourism businesses and called Altitude Tours “a proper tourism company – inspirational”.

The He Toa Takitini Māori Tourism Award was awarded to Kapiti Island Nature Tours, with the judges saying: “The whānau involved in this legacy business embodies all that is best in Māori tourism.”

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The country’s tourism industry gave itself a well-deserved pat on the back on Thursday evening with the return of the in-person New Zealand Tourism Awards.

After a difficult pandemic for many operators, the industry was able to celebrate the awards, organised by Tourism Industry Aotearoa, in the same room at Claudelands in Hamilton together for the first time since 2019.

“So many tourism finalists, colleagues, friends and just darn amazing businesses worthy of recognition,” posted Matt Wong online this morning. The owner of Queenstown’s iFLY Indoor Skydiving NZ saw his business win the Tourism Talent Employer of Choice Award for the second year in a row.

“The finalists were all absolute rockstars, and I was completely unprepared for winning the [award] again in 2022… humbled and inspired by the amazing businesses making a difference in their communities. 

“There is huge commitment to deliver the aspirational goals of regenerative tourism, and I’m stoked iFLY is able to stand among so many industry champions.”

Queenstown’s Altitude Tours, which won the Westpac Resilience and Innovation Award, said it was a “huge night”.

“Congratulations to Christchurch International Airport Limited and Haka Tourism Group for being finalists. Thank you to Tourism Industry Aotearoa,” posted the operator online.

Cooper and Company’s luxury accommodation The Landing won the Department of Conservation – Conservation Award and said it was a proud moment of recognition for its kaitiakitanga of its heritage site in the Bay of Islands.

“We are delighted to see the work of The Landing team and many others recognised,” said Garth Solly, director of hospitality at the operator. 

“The Landing is a special place and we take great pride and care in being the custodians of its landscape, history and wildlife. Our sustainability practices are key to protecting and preserving The Landing’s unique qualities and community, for the past 20 years and far into the future.”

John Barrett, who won the Marsh Industry Champion Tourism Award, thanked the industry for “recognising time and contribution to the sector”.

“It’s been a privilege, and an education,” he said.

“There have been, and there still are some great people in our industry. Let’s hope we come through the next couple of years well, with an eye to a sustainable, regenerative future.”

Barrett’s Kapiti Island Nature Tours also won the He Toa Takitini Māori Tourism Award.

WellingtonNZ Tourism manager Jo Heaton said Barrett’s and Kapiti Island Nature Tours’ success, as well as e-ferry operator East by West winning the Environment Award, were fitting recognition for the region’s industry.

“My heart was in my throat as our region kept being represented on the stage,” Heaton said of last night’s event.

“To have our innovative operators recognised for their mahi is testament to their hard work.”

The full list of New Zealand Tourism Awards winners can be seen here.

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The team from Tourism Holdings (and a couple of notable interlopers) with the Supreme Award at the NZ Tourism Awards in Christchurch on Thursday night.

Tourism Holdings Limited has walked away from the 2018 New Zealand Tourism Awards with the industry’s highest accolade, the Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award.

The Auckland-headquartered global group also won the Auckland Airport Business Excellence Award – more than $6m annual turnover – beating competition from Real Journeys and Sudima Hotels & Resorts.

The awards judges said THL, which has annual turnover of $426m, “is a global business that can hold its own on the world stage, an amazing success story and exemplar for New Zealand’s tourism industry.”

The New Zealand Stock Exchange-listed group looks after more than 200,000 customers a year, operating a global recreational vehicle fleet of more than 6000.

Alongside its RV rental and sales operations, it also operates two tourism businesses in New Zealand – Discover Waitomo, including Waitomo Glowworm Caves; and Kiwi Experience, a bus network aimed at young backpackers.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive, Chris Roberts, said creating a tremendous crew culture has been integral to thl’s success, and noted investing in sustainability and innovation, including developing electric motorhomes, “are also priorities”.

In her second major industry win of the year, the awards’ most prestigious individual honour, the Horwath HTL Sir Jack Newman Award, went to Kathy Guy.

Described as a tourism industry trail-blazer, Guy has risen through the ranks from waitress to become one of the first female hotel general managers in New Zealand, successfully leading the Chateau Tongariro Hotel and the Wairakei Resort Taupo.

In July, Guy also won the hotel sector’s most prestigious prize, the Hotel Industry Achievement Award.

She was not the only one to follow-up July’s hotels awards success by winning more accolades at tonight’s gala dinner in Christchurch which was attended by more than 400 industry leaders and supporters.

Les Morgan, director of hotels at Sudima Hotel & Resorts, won the JLT & AIG Tourism Industry Champion Award. This comes after he walked away from the hotel awards with the Hotel Industry Senior Hotel Executive of the Year, sponsored by NZ Sotheby’s International Realty.

Queenstown-based Luke Taylor, general manager of Go Orange –part of the Real Journeys group – was awarded the PATA New Zealand Trust Emerging Tourism Leader Award. He was up against Forgotten World’s Ian Balme, Ross Copland from Ruapehu Alpine Lifts and THL’s Travis Donoghue.

Taumarunui operator Forgotten World Adventures did not leave empty handed however, scooping the NZME People’s Choice Award.

The Westpac Business Excellence Award – less than $6m annual turnover – was taken out by Owen River Lodge, while Kapiti Island Nature Tours received the Department of Conservation Environmental Tourism Award.

Hawke’s Bay Tourism, led by Annie Dundas, was recognised by winning the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment Industry Alignment Award, while Air New Zealand won the epay NZ Tourism Marketing Award.

He Kai Kei Aku Ringa Māori Tourism Award went to Whale Watch Kaikoura and the Great Journeys of New Zealand Tourism 2025 Enabler Award was taken home by Christchurch Airport, and finally, GO Rentals was the recipient of the ServiceIQ Visitor Experience Award.

Roberts said that this year’s awards were extremely competitive, “a reflection of a thriving industry that is contributing $36bn to the New Zealand economy and supporting almost 400,000 jobs in communities throughout the country”.

He added: “Positively, several award winners are from smaller communities, helping attract visitors to areas off the traditional tourist track. It’s also pleasing to see the focus our business winners are putting on environmental and host community sustainability, as well as financial performance.”

Roberts thanked the awards partners, Air New Zealand and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for their support.

MBIE chief executive, Carolyn Tremain, said the Ministry’s tourism policy team works to support the industry to make the biggest contribution it can to New Zealand’s economic success.

“We are really proud to sponsor the awards and celebrate the achievements of the industry. I congratulate all the winners and finalists on their innovative ideas and hard work.”

The New Zealand Tourism Awards 2018 winners:

Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award

• Tourism Holdings Ltd (thl)

Auckland Airport Business Excellence Award – more than $6 million annual turnover

• Tourism Holdings Ltd (thl)

Horwath HTL Sir Jack Newman Outstanding Industry Leader Award

• Kathy Guy

PATA New Zealand Trust Emerging Tourism Leader Award

• Luke Taylor, Go Orange, Queenstown

JLT & AIG Tourism Industry Champion Award

• Les Morgan, Sudima Hotels and Resorts

Westpac Business Excellence Award – Less than $6 million annual turnover

• Owen River Lodge

Department of Conservation Environmental Tourism Award

• Kapiti Island Nature Tours

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment Industry Alignment Award

• Hawke’s Bay Tourism 

He Kai Kei Aku Ringa Māori Tourism Award

• Whale Watch Kaikoura Ltd

The Great Journeys of New Zealand Tourism 2025 Enabler Award

• Christchurch Airport

epay NZ Tourism Marketing Award

• Air New Zealand

ServiceIQ Visitor Experience Award

• GO Rentals

NZME People’s Choice Award

• Forgotten World Adventures

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