New Zealand
Hospitality NZ releases 2026 Election Manifesto
The manifesto outlines six priorities the organisation would like to see considered for the hospitality and accommodation industry
Hospitality New Zealand (Hospitality NZ) has released an election manifesto today, outlining key areas the organisation would like to see considered for the hospitality and accommodation industry.
Kristy Phillips, Hospitality NZ CEO, says: “Hospitality contributes billions of dollars to the New Zealand economy and supports tens of thousands of jobs.
“Most of our members are small business owners: people who employ locally, invest in their communities, and deliver the manaakitanga that defines New Zealand’s visitor experience.
“Ahead of the 2026 election, Hospitality NZ 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:
- Immigration: enabling settings that support the hospitality workforce
- Skills and training: building pathways into the industry
- Keg tax: reducing excise on kegged beer
- Secondary tax: introducing cumulative PAYE for multi-employer workers
- Short-term rental accommodation: introducing a national register
- Industry funding: a consistent national visitor levy.
Kristy Phillips says: “These are practical policy changes that will help hospitality and accommodation businesses remain viable, strengthen our sector’s workforce and support its contribution to New Zealand’s economy and communities.”
Amongst the priorities outlined in the manifesto is a call for immigration policy to include practical residency pathways for experienced hospitality workers and for work experience to be formally recognised across visa settings.
Kristy Phillips says: “Many experienced workers have no clear way to stay in New Zealand long term, even after years of working in our kitchens, bars and accommodation businesses, as a result of immigration settings that prioritise formal qualifications over work experience.”
The manifesto also calls for New Zealand’s keg-specific excise tax to be aligned with Australian settings through a reduced rate, alongside a review of automatic CPI indexation.
“New Zealand’s excise tax on draught beer is significantly out of step with Australia and the UK,” Kristy Phillips continues.
“Keg beer sold through hospitality environments already pays a disproportionately high rate relative to packaged beer, placing direct pressure on hospitality venues at a time when they can least afford it.
“This isn’t a call for a subsidy. It’s a call for alignment with similar markets to our own, and a recognition that fair tax settings are essential to sustaining a viable hospitality sector.”
Kristy Phillips says the manifesto should be considered alongside the work of the 2026 Hospitality Summit and the Ministry for Regulation Hospitality Review.
“Together, this manifesto – and the 2026 Hospitality Summit Report and Hospitality Sector Regulatory Review being conducted by the Ministry for Regulation that are due to be released in the next month or so – show the breadth of issues impacting our sector.
“They outline the key actions that will better support hospitality over the next term to deliver to its full potential for the benefit of New Zealand.”
The full Hospitality NZ Election Manifesto 2026 is available here.
