Engaging with cruise sector

The 2024/25 year was an especially challenging one for the New Zealand cruise sector, with three key issues continually raising their heads:

• The cost of cruising in New Zealand
• Lack of biofouling/cleaning options, and 
• The threat of a Milford ban, which was addressed in May 2025. [See separate story.]

Port Otago took a three-prong approach to engaging with cruise customers and partners during the year, attending Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, meeting face-to-face with cruise lines in Sydney, and coordinating lobbying activity across the sector via the New Zealand Cruise Association (NZCA). 

April was a particularly busy month. The Board and some of the Leadership Team were in Sydney and had in-person briefings with Cruise Australia and Carnival Cruise Line. Both organisations reinforced the need to address the issues holding back New Zealand cruising.

The Board and management also visited the New South Wales Port Authority, which operates Sydney Harbour, including the Circular Quay and White Bay cruise terminals, and berths 375 cruise ships annually. 

Meanwhile, later in April, GM Customer Craig Usher and Cruise Manager Carolyn Bennett attended the Seatrade Cruise Global conference and trade show in Miami and met face-to-face with several cruise lines. The same issues came up, repeatedly. 

In August 2024, the NZCA hosted its annual conference in Auckland, where the theme was Setting a course for the future, where the cruise lines understandably took the opportunity to re-iterate the three blocks to cruising in New Zealand. The delegation determined it would approach the Government to work in a collaborative way to address the issues. On 22 July 2025, cruise industry representatives joined New Zealand Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston in Wellington for round-table discussions on the future direction of cruise ship operations in New Zealand, setting the scene for longer-term collaboration on the development of international cruise tourism. 

Chief Executive Kevin Winders is also on the NZCA Board. He says that, while the next two years of cruise bookings are essentially locked in, three years plus is where the opportunity lies.  

“We need to use that window. Serious work is needed to rebuild New Zealand’s brand as a cruise-friendly nation.

“It was great to hear first hand from the cruise lines – and valuable for them to see that we understand and are working hard on this side of the Tasman to address the two remaining issues – cost and biofouling. We know what needs to happen and are already working with our government to action progress.”

Kevin says New Zealand’s wider cruise sector has already pulled together to successfully remove speculation around the Milford cruise ban. “We need to build on that momentum, if we want to remain a viable destination for the cruise lines.”

More cruise stories in Our assets.