More work to do to draw more international visitors to our shores

Stats NZ data for the year to the end of March 2023, shows total tourism spend of 37.7 billion dollars - up 10.7 billion from the year before.

That's about four billion shy of pre-covid levels.

Tourism Minister Matt Doocey says Australia, USA, and the UK all have similar market share compared with 2019.

He says the real difference is China -- pre-covid it was about 10 percent market share, but in 2023 it's about five -- so there's a lot to do in that market.