10 July 2026
This Matariki, Auckland Airport’s own numbers tell a story of connection to match the season.
In the year to March 2026, almost 1.7 million international journeys through Auckland Airport came down to one thing: people travelling to reconnect with the friends and family who matter most.
More than 800,000 international visitors arrived at Auckland Airport specifically to see friends and whānau – more than one in three of all international visitor arrivals. At the same time, almost 900,000 New Zealand residents departed to visit loved ones overseas. Together, that’s close to 1.7 million reunions, farewells and homecomings moving through Tāmaki Makaurau's gateway to the world in a single year.
Auckland Airport Chief Customer Officer, Scott Tasker said while sporting rivalries may run deep Australia is by far the biggest source of international visitors coming through Auckland Airport to see friends and family.
“Australia alone accounted for 737,000 VFR (visiting friends and relatives) journeys in the year to March 2026 – 44% of all friends-and-family travel through Auckland Airport. That reflects the close trans-Tasman ties many New Zealanders have, with whānau and friends travelling back and forth across the Tasman for birthdays, weddings, holidays and everyday catchups. What’s striking is how evenly balanced it is, with New Zealand residents heading across the Tasman and Australian-based friends and whānau travelling here in almost equal numbers.
“Beyond the Tasman, different patterns start to emerge. Long-haul markets such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and parts of Europe are more weighted toward people coming to New Zealand to visit friends and relatives.
“By contrast, New Zealand residents travelling outbound to countries such as India, China and Philippines are much more likely to be visiting friends and relatives than travelling for other reasons. It shows how Auckland and wider New Zealand’s more recent migrant communities continue to stay closely connected with people and places overseas – going home, again and again, to keep those relationships strong."
As Aotearoa marks Matariki, this year's celebrations are led by Tāmaki Makaurau iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, under the theme Matariki herenga waka – Tāmaki as a gathering place for all. For Auckland Airport, which sees these reunions unfold within its arrivals hall every day of the year, the theme strikes a particular chord.
Mr Tasker said what happens in arrivals and departures each day is easy to miss from outside the terminal.
"There's nothing like the energy in our arrivals and departures areas. Something about welcoming or farewelling those we love brings out real emotion in people. Walk through our terminal at any hour and you'll see it: the signs, the flowers, the tears, sometimes a haka to welcome someone home or send them off. It's electric,” said Mr Tasker.
“Auckland is one of the most diverse cities in the world – 43 per cent of the 1.8 million people who call it home were born overseas. What that really means is that for a huge number of people who travel through our airport, this isn't a holiday or a business trip. It's coming home, or it's family coming to see them. Matariki herenga waka – Tāmaki as a gathering place for everyone – is something we see play out within our terminals every single day."
Notes to editors
Key statistics (year to March 2026)
- 802,000 international visitors arrived through Auckland Airport for VFR (visiting friends and relatives) purposes – 33% of all international visitor arrivals
- 892,000 New Zealand residents departed overseas for VFR purposes (flat year-on-year)
- VFR travel proportion through Auckland Airport has settled at a new baseline of ~34%, up from ~29–31% pre-pandemic
- Trans-Tasman VFR travel totalled 737,000 journeys in year ending March 2026 – 44% of all VFR travel through Auckland Airport, almost evenly split between New Zealand residents and overseas visitors
- Markets with the highest proportion of inbound VFR travel (year ending March 2026, markets >500 travellers/year): South Africa (75%), Nepal (65%), Sri Lanka (62%), Fiji (59%), Tonga (58%), Pakistan (57%)
About Matariki herenga waka
This year's national Matariki theme, led by host iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, centres on inclusion and Tāmaki Makaurau as a gathering place for all people, reflecting the region's diversity