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New Zealand Tourism Awards finalists revealed for 2023

5 September 2023

The New Zealand Tourism Awards 2023 finalists have been announced!   

The awards, presented by Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA), showcase and celebrate the very best of New Zealand tourism’s individual and business successes. 

Congratulations to all the finalists as listed below. Winners will be announced in person at an Awards gala dinner on 7 November in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, following Tourism Summit Aotearoa.  
    
This year’s judges said that overall, the entries painted a very compelling picture about the resilience of the tourism industry.  

Some categories were closely fought and there were mentions made of “impressive reinventions” as well as careful thought given to the evidence supplied. 

Judges were particularly taken with tourism operators establishing their social licence.  

“What I particularly liked was how they translated the shift they’ve made in their markets to sharing the benefits with the local community,” a judge said of one entrant. 

TIA Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram says the industry was moving from strength to strength.  

The finalists are a showcase of grit, ambition, and positive contribution. Their achievements are testament to the quality of tourism leaders across the industry and their ability to innovate.”    

Three of the awards will acknowledge outstanding performers in the industry, and ten awards recognise business excellence, industry alignment and values that are in line with the Tourism Sustainability Commitment.   

The finalists are... 

Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust Community Engagement Award 2023  

 

Tourism Talent Employer of Choice Award 2023 

 

KiwiRail Tourism Environment Award 2023  

 

Tourism New Zealand Industry Collaboration and Alignment Award 2023 

 

Toroa ā-uta, Toroa ā-tai Māori Tourism Award 2023  

 
Sponsored by New Zealand Māori Tourism 

 

Westpac Resilience and Innovation Award 2023  

 

NZME Visitor Experience Award 2023 

 

Airbnb Tourism Excellence Award (Small-Medium Business) 2023  

BDO Tourism Excellence Award (Large Business) 2023 

 

The Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award will be selected from these nine business award winners and will be presented at the Gala Dinner. 

 

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS  

 

Emerging Tourism Leader Award 2023 

 

Marsh Tourism Industry Champion Award 2023 

 

The Sir Jack Newman Award for Outstanding Industry Leader will also be presented at the Gala Dinner. 

Thank you to all of the tourism businesses who entered – we were thrilled to receive 123 entries and the range of entries showed a high level of adaptability and creativity.  

A huge thank you also to our 24 judges, to our Awards Partner Air New Zealand and our awards sponsors: Airbnb, BDO, KiwiRail Tourism, Marsh, New Zealand Māori Tourism, Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust, Tourism New Zealand, Tourism Talent, NZME and Westpac.  

 
For more information on the New Zealand Tourism Awards, visit www.nztourismawards.org.nz 

 

For more information, please contact: 

Catherine Clouston 

External Communications Specialist 

Tourism Industry Aotearoa 

0274 379 687  

catherine.clouston@tia.org.nz 

 

KEY FACTS 

  • Tourism Industry Aotearoa is New Zealand tourism’s peak industry body. We are the only independent association that represents all sectors of New Zealand’s large and diverse tourism industry. 
  • TIA has about 1300 member businesses from across the industry, ranging from small owner/operators to large publicly listed tourism corporates and international hotel chains. 
  • TIA is deeply involved in discussions on recovery and what the future of tourism in New Zealand will look like.  
  • TIA leads implementation of the industry's Tourism Sustainability Commitment which aims to see every New Zealand tourism business contributing positively to our people and cultures, our environment and our economy 
  • TIA delivers a comprehensive and diverse range of industry events including TRENZ, New Zealand Tourism Awards, Discussing Tourism regional events and the Tourism Summit Aotearoa. 

Visit www.tia.org.nz for more information 

 

Thanks to our strategic partners

Thanks to our strategic partners

Thanks to our strategic partners