Employer Bulletin | 20 October

The government welcomes new data showing a healthy growth in international visitor numbers and improved confidence across the tourism industry.

“International tourism, as New Zealand’s second highest export earner, is a key part of our economic recovery,” Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says. 

“So, it is great to see that international visitor arrivals in August were up 7.5% from the same time last year. With summer around the corner, we are making steady progress against our goal to return to pre-COVID visitor levels, sitting at 88% of December 2019 numbers.

“More visitors means more full tables in our restaurants, more bookings in our hotels, more people visiting our regions and attractions, and more jobs being created across the country.”

The latest International Travel and Migration (ITM) data from Statistics New Zealand shows that of the 230,300 international visitor arrivals in August 2025, 52% were from Australia, 9% were from China, and 5% were from the United States. 

“These positive statistics reflect what the tourism industry is obviously seeing themselves first hand with a Tourism Industry Aotearoa survey also out today showing 86 per cent of tourism organisations feeling confident about the year ahead. Up 11 per cent on last year’s results."
 

In today’s Bulletin:

• Expired trial period leads to unjustified dismissal
• Authority allows privileged communications to form part of evidence
• Migrant worker unjustifiably dismissed after employer fails to provide work
• Employer successfully claims employment relationship was casual in nature
• Employer’s attempt to rely on medical incapacity process found to be unjustified
• Eight news updates of interest for employers including: ACC Annual Report 2025; New Zealand welcomes growth in international visitors; Government sets methane targets for 2050; A simpler approach to funding science in New Zealand; Insights show WorkSafe’s influence in action; Regulation ministry caters to $15.7 billion industry; Household saving increases in the June 2025 quarter.
• Four bills open for submission

If you have any questions, about this case or other employment relation matters, call the Advice Line team on 0800 800 362.