Hospitality NZ Calls for Policy Reforms Ahead of 2026 Election

Hospitality New Zealand (Hospitality NZ) has released its election manifesto, outlining key areas it would like to see considered for the hospitality and accommodation industry.

Kristy Phillips, Hospitality NZ CEO, says that 'hospitality contributes billions of dollars to the New Zealand economy and supports tens of thousands of jobs.'

The organisation is calling on all parties to commit to a policy environment that can create the settings these food and beverage and accommodation businesses need to grow, attract and retain talent, and remain financially sustainable.

The manifesto outlines six priorities: enabling immigration settings to support the hospitality workforce, building pathways into the industry through skills and training, reducing excise on kegged beer (keg tax), introducing cumulative PAYE for multi-employer workers (secondary tax), establishing a national register for short-term rental accommodation, and implementing a consistent national visitor levy.