As part of a cabinet reshuffle announced last week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appointed Peeni Henare as Associate Minister of Tourism.
“TIA’s long-held position has been that the size and importance of our industry justifies a high ranking Minister supported by an Associate Minister,” said TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts in a statement.
The appointment comes 7 months after Tourism Industry Aotearoa wrote to the Prime Minster, asking her to consider appointing an associate tourism minister.
“We have a strong relationship with Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis but an inevitable consequence of a senior minister holding the portfolio is that it must compete with his other portfolios for time and attention," said Chris Robert. “As a former Tourism Spokesperson, Minister Henare is already known to the industry
and I look forward to updating him on the latest developments.”
Mr Henare is the Member of Parliament for Tāmaki Makaurau, and is of Ngāti Hine and Ngāpuhi descent.
The Numbers
- Tourism in New Zealand is a $107 million per day industry.
- Tourism delivers around $44 million in foreign exchange to the New Zealand economy each day of the year. Domestic tourism contributes another $63 million in economic activity every day.
- Tourism is New Zealand's biggest export earner, contributing $16.2 billion or 20.6 per cent of New Zealand's foreign exchange earnings (year ending March 2018.)
- 13.5% of New Zealand employees, or 1 in 7, work directly or indirectly in the tourism sector.
- The Tourism 2025 and Beyond sustainable growth framework (Kaupapa Whakapakari Tāpoi) works towards growing a sustainable tourism industry that benefits New Zealanders.
