Tourism Industry Aotearoa reveals finalists for New Zealand Tourism Awards 2023

Tourism Industry Aotearoa has revealed the finalists for New Zealand Tourism Awards 2023 with winners to be announced in person at an Awards gala dinner on 7th November in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, following Tourism Summit Aotearoa.      

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

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 with one judge noting “what I particularly liked was how they translated the shift they’ve made in their markets to sharing the benefits with the local community.”

TIA Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram says the industry was moving from strength to strength and added “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 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

• EcoZip Adventures 

• MDA Experiences 

• Visit Ruapehu & Waihuia Ventures Ltd   

Tourism Talent Employer of Choice Award 2023

• Christchurch Airport 

• EcoZip Adventures 

• GO Rentals

• Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa   

KiwiRail Tourism Environment Award 2023

• Christchurch Airport 

• EcoZip Adventures 

• Pic's Peanut Butter    

Tourism New Zealand Industry Collaboration and Alignment Award 2023

• Hawke's Bay Tourism 

• Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours Ltd 

• Otago Trails Marketing Group    

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

• Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours Ltd

• Tauhara North Tourism - Te Pā Tū 

• Whanganui Tours 

Sponsored by New Zealand Māori Tourism

Westpac Resilience and Innovation Award 2023

• Haka Tourism Group 

• Kapiti Island Nature Tours 

• Tauhara North Tourism - Te Pā Tū   

NZME Visitor Experience Award 2023

• Altitude Tours 

• Kiwi Journeys New Zealand 

• Wild Kiwi Tours  

Airbnb Tourism Excellence Award (Small-Medium Business) 2023

• Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours Ltd 

• Tauhara North Tourism - Te Pā Tū 

• Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne   

BDO Tourism Excellence Award (Large Business) 2023

• Air New Zealand 

• Fullers360 

• INFLITE Group 

• Skyline Queenstown    

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

• Awatere Douglas, Sudima Hotels

• Heidi Farren, Altitude Tours 

• Heidi Gillingham, Go With Tourism   

Marsh Tourism Industry Champion Award 2023

• Dave Kilmister, Huka Falls River Cruise 

• Margaret Davidson, Scenic Hotel Group 

• Steve & Kate Norris, Fiordland Trips & Tramps Ltd.   

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

Tourism Industry Aotearoa thanked everyone who entered and were thrilled to receive 123 entries with the range of entries showing a high level of adaptability and creativity.  

TIA also extended thanks to the 24 judges, to their Awards Partner Air New Zealand and their 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

Image top. Credit: Wild Kiwi Tours; image above. Credit: EcoZip Adventures