A pared-back cruise season is underway in New Zealand.

The Diamond Princess has docked in Lyttelton this morning, after being in the capital over the weekend.

The New Zealand Cruise Association says port calls and passenger numbers are expected to be down 20 percent overall this year.

Chief executive Jacqui Lloyd told Mike Hosking costs are largely to blame.

“What we’ve seen over the last year is increases in port fees, increases in government levies, increases in regulation, but also we need to throw across the top of that geopolitical concern.”

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