Queenstown Lakes shows record consumer retail spend

From ANZ.

Queenstown-Lakes starts 2026 strongly

Queenstown-Lakes District recorded $222.47 million in in-store consumer spending in January 2026, according to the latest ANZ consumer spending data released by Dot Loves Data. While this represented a 5.9 percent decrease from December 2025, the result was still notably higher than January last year, up from $212.9 million in January 2025, highlighting continued year-on-year growth in the district’s visitor-led economy.

January saw 4.07 million in-store transactions across Queenstown-Lakes, reflecting strong activity through what is traditionally one of the region’s busiest summer months. The seasonal pullback from December reflects typical post-holiday patterns, rather than any weakening in underlying demand.

Domestic tourism continued to play a major role in January, contributing $40.3 million of total spend. Aucklanders were the largest domestic visitor group, spending $10.3 million in the district during the month. Visitors from Christchurch also made a significant contribution, with $5.8 million spent, reinforcing Queenstown’s appeal across both islands as a peak summer destination.

International tourism remained the dominant driver of spending. Overseas visitors spent $73 million in January, up from $66.9 million in the same month last year. Australians continued to lead international spend, accounting for $30.1 million, underlining the strength of the trans-Tasman travel market and Queenstown’s enduring popularity with Australian holidaymakers.

“January’s figures show that Queenstown-Lakes continues to outperform on a year-on-year basis, even as spending naturally eases from December highs,” said Justin Lester, spokesperson for Dot Loves Data. “The scale of international and domestic visitor spend highlights how critical tourism remains to the local economy.”

The January results point to a strong start to 2026 for Queenstown-Lakes.

Central Otago

Central Otago recorded $62.3 million in in-store consumer spending in January 2026, according to the latest ANZ consumer spending data released by Dot Loves Data. The result represents a modest but positive increase on the $60.2 million spent in January 2025, reinforcing the region’s steady growth through the peak summer period.

There were 1.26 million in-store transactions across Central Otago during January, highlighting strong visitor and local activity across retail, hospitality, and services.

Domestic tourism continued to play a critical role in January’s performance, contributing $13.9 million of total spend. Visitors from within the South Island were particularly important, with Dunedin residents leading domestic spending at $2.5 million and those from Christchurch $1.45m. Aucklanders were the next largest domestic contributor, spending $1.5 million in Central Otago during the month.

International tourism showed encouraging growth. Overseas visitors spent $7 million in Central Otago in January, up from $6 million in January 2025. Australian visitors accounted for $2.8 million of international spend, while travellers from the United Kingdom contributed $1 million, reflecting continued demand from long-haul markets alongside strong trans-Tasman travel.

“Central Otago’s January results show a local economy going from strength to strength with consistent year on year growth” said Justin Lester, spokesperson for Dot Loves Data. “The bounce back in international tourism is a positive indicator and we expect domestic tourism spend to improve along with the macroeconomy in New Zealand.”