Hospo NZ outlines election priorities
Hospitality New Zealand has released a manifesto outlining its priorities for the hospitality and accommodation industries ahead of the November election.
“Hospitality contributes billions of dollars to the New Zealand economy and supports tens of thousands of jobs,” says Kristy Phillips, Hospitality NZ CEO. “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.
“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,” says Phillips.
She says amongst the priorities 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. “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,” says Phillips. “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.”
Hospitality NZ says the manifesto should be considered alongside the work of the 2026 Hospitality Summit, and the Ministry for Regulation Hospitality Review, which are due to be released in shortly.
W: See the full Hospitality NZ Election Manifesto 2026 here.
