There's a belief New Zealand needs to put its money where its mouth is to attract international tourists. 

Overseas visitor arrivals reached 3.2 million in the year to June but is still 17% down on pre-pandemic peaks. 

Tourism Holdings Chief Executive, Grant Webster told Mike Hosking we simply have to be more competitive, as other countries spend big. 

He says Australia's three major states combined have a $800 million spend – more than 50% on New Zealand on a per capita basis. 

Webster says Aotearoa needs to invest in order to bring people back, and we need to drop the expectation it 'will just happen' without work. 

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