New Zealand Cruise Association’s key players re-elected, region's crippling costs addressed

Tompkins, chief executive of Wellington Cable Car, and Summers, former chairman and executive director of IDNZ, welcomed 241 delegates to Auckland where the first NZCA conference was held in 2013, going on to Napier, Wellington, Blenheim and Christchurch.

Crippling costs

There was a lot of discussion about the ‘crippling’ costs for cruise ship visits — including port and fuel fees and the proposed 88% hike in cruise passenger processing fees — and the decline in ship visits expected in 2024/25 with more reductions expected in the 2026/27 season.

Auckland to review port fees

Port of Auckland CEO Roger Gary told delegates the industry’s outcry has been heard.

Gray said the first price increase scheduled for October will go ahead, but future hikes will be assessed to keep both Auckland and New Zealand as an attractive cruise destination.    

Optimistic outlook

During a panel session on ‘Future of NZ Cruising: Headwinds and Tailwinds,’ life member Craig Harris, founder of what is now the New Zealand Cruise Association in 1994, was upbeat.

‘We need to get the regulatory problems solved and put out the welcome mat that we are open for business,’ Harris said.

He said the New Zealand cruise industry has faced serious problems before, like the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in 2002-2004, and it bounced back.