Speaking to a "cruise update" session at the Edgar Centre yesterday, Port Otago sustainability and cruise manager Carolyn Bennett said there were likely to be 80 cruise ships visiting in the 2025-26 season, and 85 in the following season.
This was well down on the peaks earlier in the decade, where as many as 120 cruise ships visited Dunedin via Port Chalmers in a season.
"Well, it’s obviously disappointing. We want to bring as many ships as we can to Dunedin for the local economy," Ms Bennett said.
She said the cruise market was particularly volatile, as they were competing with many other markets, as well as a fluctuating US dollar.
"Unfortunately, this is affecting New Zealand cruising as a whole, which has been reported by Cruise Association.
"But we’re working now with government and other authorities to try to reverse that trend."
Cruise Association chief executive Jacqui Lloyd said there had been extensive discussions with both the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment and the Tourism Ministry.
"We have definitely got a very supportive government and a very supportive minister on looking at how we can remedy the quite frightening decline that New Zealand has over the next two years."
"Cruise line and shipping lines don’t want to bring anything nasty into the country — the rules for biofouling have become quite strict for New Zealand, which we’re all comfortable with.
"However, there’s nowhere safe to clean within New Zealand waters unless you sit at the 12-mile limit, wait for calm weather and have divers go down the side to do some last-minute cleaning.
"If there is a rogue mussel, for example, or two or three that they need to [be cleaned] off the ship, the need to sit off the coast of Tauranga for a few days to wait for calm weather with a full payload of passengers on board is not ideal."
The lack of certainty around the biofouling management and government levies meant that many cruise ship destinations were looking elsewhere, she said.
However, Ms Bennett and Ms Lloyd remained optimistic.
Ms Bennett said Dunedin had "several unique selling propositions" for tourists, such as its compactness, its wildlife and heritage.
"We’re still highly regarded."
Tourism Minister Louise Upston confirmed meetings with the cruise industry.
"Our government has a clear priority to unleash economic growth. Tourism and hospitality — including the cruise industry — will be key contributors as we get back to 2019 visitor numbers.
"We know cruises bring big economic benefits with passengers spending money in our businesses and communities," she said.
"I look forward to further work with the cruise industry and across government agencies, as we jointly explore opportunities and address challenges."
