Entries are open for the tourism industry’s highest accolades, the 2024 New Zealand Tourism Awards, which this year will
be held in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Hosted by Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA), the Tourism Awards celebrate outstanding
individuals and businesses across the industry and provide a benchmark for excellence.
“The awards are the industry’s highest form of recognition for the many cases of excellence operating in our tourism
industry,” TIA Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram says.
“Time and again, winners and finalists have told us what a difference being a finalist or winner has made to their
business, their staff and their visibility at large.”
There are 14 awards – 11 for businesses and three for individuals in tourism. This year, to increase the recognition of
smaller tourism operators, a new Tourism Excellence Award has been introduced for micro-businesses (with a turnover
under $1.5 million).
Entry criteria has also been refined to align with the tourism industry strategy, Tourism 2050 – A Blueprint for Impact.
The Toroa ā-Uta, Toroa ā-Tai Māori Tourism Award criteria also now reflects five core Māori values: Tuakiritanga
(Identity), Manaakitanga (generosity and hospitality), Kaitiakitanga (guardianship), Kotahitanga (Unity) and Te Reo Me
Ngā Tikanga Māori (Māori Customs and Language).
Applications for this award should align with either these values or others from the applicant’s whānau, hapū, or iwi.
This award recognises and celebrates tourism businesses that integrate these stories of identity and whenua across their
operations, enabling the success of whānau, hapū and iwi as their unique selves.
Awards can be transformative. For Danielle Shanahan, Chief Executive of Wellington eco-sanctuary Zealandia Te Māra a
Tāne, winning last year’s Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award and airbnb Tourism Excellence Award (Small-Medium
Business) was a significant boost for morale and public recognition.
“Since the 2023 awards, we have seen an increase in requests for tours, functions and visits from local, national and
international audiences, and we have just delivered our biggest summer season ever.”
Winners will be announced at the prestigious New Zealand Tourism Awards dinner on 6 November at the Cordis Auckland,
following TIA’s Tourism Summit Aotearoa.
Entries open 27 May and close 4 July. To find out more, visit nztourismawards.org.nz.
A special thanks to the Host City Partner, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, and Awards Partners.New Zealand Tourism Awards 2024 – The CategoriesBusiness AwardsSupreme Tourism AwardTourism Excellence (Large Business) AwardTourism Excellence (Small-Medium Business) AwardTourism Excellence (Micro Business) AwardCommunity Engagement AwardTourism Talent Employer of Choice AwardEnvironment AwardIndustry Collaboration and Alignment AwardResilience and Innovation AwardToroa ā-uta, Toroa ā-tai Māori Tourism AwardNZME Visitor Experience Award
Individual AwardsSir Jack Newman Award for Outstanding Industry LeaderTourism Industry Champion AwardEmerging Tourism Leader Award