Celebrating top hosts and their listings on offer across the country, the Airbnb Host Awards spotlight exceptional hosts for the hospitality they offer guests and the benefits they bring to their communities.
New Zealand hosts have been recognised under categories like Most Unique Stay and Best Design Stay as part of the platform's third annual host awards.
Aotearoa's winners included those who converted a romantic house bus set in a field on 35 acres overlooking the beautiful West Coast of Raglan to a glamping tent that blends luxury and nature on the hilltops of Waitomo.
Kawakawa Hut, an off-the-grid countryside hut built from repurposed materials, has won the Best Nature Stay award.
This year's coveted Host of the Year award went to Rotorua's David and Christina, whose private cabin treats guests with personal touches, unexpected inclusions, and welcoming experiences such as homemade treats and a private outdoor bath.
South Island host Viv has won the Best New Host Award for her private guest suite located in the idyllic Arrowtown, while this year's new category, Best Room Host, was awarded to Joanna, who provides a room in her light and bright Freemans Bay home, allowing guests to have the ultimate inner city experience.
"Local Hosts are the backbone of the Airbnb community, and here in New Zealand, we have so many incredible hosts who consistently go above and beyond for their guests and shine a spotlight on this beautiful country," said Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb's Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand.
"We know that hosts put in tremendous effort to ensure their listings are unique, curated and full of thoughtful touches that allow guests to immerse themselves in a truly unique experience to remember."
All corners of the country were covered, with winning Hosts hailing from Arrowtown in the south to Waitomo and up to Auckland. There was also a range of price points, from luxe listings to tiny homes and everything in between.
The cost of living has created fundamental shifts in how people travel and live, creating tangible opportunities for communities that lay off the beaten track. Domestic and affordable trends are seeing the benefits of tourism spreading further afield into regional New Zealand and empowering locals to earn a living and make ends meet.
Recent research from Oxford Economics has found that Airbnb is an essential pillar of Aotearoa's tourism industry, contributes $ 2.8 billion to the Gross Domestic Product and supports 22,500 Kiwi jobs.
