Overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand rose 9% year on year to 272,969 in September 2026, accelerating from an 8% increase in August. Australia and China led the growth. Arrivals from Australia reached 123,512, up 8%, while arrivals from China surged 38% to 94,068. Together, the two countries accounted for nearly three-quarters of the total increase. Arrivals from the US were 9,219, a 2% rise, bringing the year-to-date total to a record 390,100. California contributed the largest share of US arrivals that specified a state of residence, and more than two-thirds of US visitors cited a holiday as their main reason for travelling to New Zealand.