Tourism numbers are still looking up.

Stats NZ data shows visits in February topped 408-thousand - more than 53-thousand up year-on-year.

More than 61-thousand were Chinese visitors - the highest month figure since almost 69-thousand, in February 2018.

Mat Woods CEO of Destination Queenstown & Lake Wanaka Tourism tells Ryan what we can do to keep tourism booming. 

Tourism numbers are still looking up.
Stats NZ data shows visits in February topped 408-thousand - more than 53-thousand up year-on-year.
More than 61-thousand were Chinese visitors - the highest month figure since almost 69-thousand, in February 2018.
Mat Woods CEO of Destination Queenstown &amp; Lake Wanaka Tourism tells Ryan what we can do to keep tourism booming.&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Mat Woods: Destination Queenstown & Lake Wanaka Tourism CEO on Tourism numbers are still looking up

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b1bf0d86-0104-43ea-b2e4-b42c012cd510/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 15th of April 2025, tourism’s roaring back now sitting at 92% of pre-covid levels, Mat Woods CEO of Destination Queenstown & Lake Wanaka Tourism, tells Ryan what we can do to keep tourism booming. 

David Seymour’s pushing to turn New Zealand into a cannabis export powerhouse, Cannabis Clinic CEO Dr Waseem Alazaher tells Ryan if new changes will be a big help for exporting. 

Independent economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts on opposing views on OCR hikes from ANZ and Kiwibank. 

Plus, UK Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the IMF's predictions for the UK economy and a former Nato secretary general saying the UK's security is "in peril". 

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

LISTEN ABOVE  

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 15th of April 2025, tourism’s roaring back now sitting at 92% of pre-covid levels, Mat Woods CEO of Destination Queenstown &amp; Lake Wanaka Tourism, tells Ryan what we can do to keep tourism booming.&nbsp;
David Seymour’s pushing to turn New Zealand into a cannabis export powerhouse, Cannabis Clinic CEO Dr Waseem Alazaher tells Ryan if new changes will be a big help for exporting.&nbsp;
Independent economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts on opposing views on OCR hikes from ANZ and Kiwibank.&nbsp;
Plus, UK Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the IMF's predictions for the UK economy and a former Nato secretary general saying the UK's security is "in peril".&nbsp;
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 15 April 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8b45fac4-565c-40cf-95af-b42c012afff8/transcript

Louise Upston is getting advice from officials on a bed tax. 

Luxon told us that last week.

They're not being explicit about it yet, but the idea is a no-brainer will happen.

In the Auckland deal Luxon did with Wayne last week, they promised to investigate one. Wayne took this to mean the thing would be introduced by 2027, though we have an election before then obviously. 

We've just had new visitor numbers drop.... we're back to 92% of pre-Covid. 3.5 million internationals a year. 

Great. But the roads and housing and pipes can't take much more. The government's goal is almost 5 million a year. 

In Queenstown, for every single ratepayer funding local infrastructure, you've got 30 to 34 international tourists hiking, skiing and smashing a Ferg burger.

The ratio is 1:30! In Auckland, it's 1:1.

Tourist hotspots with small resident population struggle to fund what's required. 

Roads, amenities and housing suffer as a result. 

And the government has so far been turning around and saying NO to a bed tax for them. They want 5%. 

They're doing this because they don't like the word tax and made promises, but as I've said before, they'll U-turn on this position because it makes no sense. 

You can't rely on a 1:30 ratio.

Rod Drury lives down that way, and he reckon we need a model like Aspen and Colorado, similar mountain towns, where they use tourism revenues to fund core infrastructure, not just marketing.

"90% of local lodging tax can be spent on affordable housing, childcare for workers, and capital improvements like trails and community assets, with only 10% required to stay in pure promotion..."

It's only a matter of time before we do the same. 

Louise Upston is getting advice from officials on a bed tax.&nbsp;
Luxon told us that last week.
They're not being explicit about it yet, but the idea is a no-brainer will happen.
In the Auckland deal Luxon did with Wayne last week, they promised to investigate one. Wayne took this to mean the thing would be introduced by 2027, though we have an election before then obviously.&nbsp;
We've just had new visitor numbers drop.... we're back to 92% of pre-Covid. 3.5 million internationals a year.&nbsp;
Great. But the roads and housing and pipes can't take much more. The government's goal is almost 5 million a year.&nbsp;
In Queenstown, for every single ratepayer funding local infrastructure, you've got 30 to 34 international tourists hiking, skiing and smashing a Ferg burger.
The ratio is 1:30! In Auckland, it's 1:1.
Tourist hotspots with small resident population struggle to fund what's required.&nbsp;
Roads, amenities and housing suffer as a result.&nbsp;
And the government has so far been turning around and saying NO to a bed tax for them. They want 5%.&nbsp;
They're doing this because they don't like the word tax and made promises, but as I've said before, they'll U-turn on this position because it makes no sense.&nbsp;
You can't rely on a 1:30 ratio.
Rod Drury lives down that way, and he reckon we need a model like Aspen and Colorado, similar mountain towns, where they use tourism revenues to fund core infrastructure, not just marketing.
"90% of local lodging tax can be spent on affordable housing, childcare for workers, and capital improvements like trails and community assets, with only 10% required to stay in pure promotion..."
It's only a matter of time before we do the same.&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: The Nats will eventually back bed tax

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a7b7b1c6-9051-4229-931a-b42c0129427c/transcript

The Cancer Society says widening access to cancer infusion treatment is a win for rural communities.   

The Health Minister announced $210 million from Budget 2024 will go into 14 new sites and expanding 14 existing ones.  

Small towns including Dargaville and Te Kuiti will get new facilities by 2028.  

Cancer Society Chief Executive Nicola Coom told Ryan Bridge that with the price of fuel at the moment, anything that reduces travel time is a win.  

She says it puts treatment closer to rural communities, which then frees up critical capacity in major tertiary hospitals. 

“A win for families, a win for our communities, and definitely a win for the system overall.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The Cancer Society says widening access to cancer infusion treatment is a win for rural communities. &nbsp;&nbsp;
The Health Minister announced $210 million from Budget 2024 will go into 14 new sites and expanding 14 existing ones. &nbsp;
Small towns including Dargaville and Te Kuiti will get new facilities by 2028. &nbsp;
Cancer Society Chief Executive Nicola Coom told Ryan Bridge that with the price of fuel at the moment, anything that reduces travel time is a win. &nbsp;
She says it puts treatment closer to rural communities, which then frees up critical capacity in major tertiary hospitals.&nbsp;
“A win for families, a win for our communities, and definitely a win for the system overall.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Nicola Coom: Cancer Society CEO on the funding and expanding of cancer infusion treatment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/68607b54-9af2-4214-9563-b42b0182064a/transcript

Mat Woods: Destination Queenstown & Lake Wanaka Tourism CEO on Tourism numbers are still looking up

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