Australians exempt from new NZ tourist levy

New Zealand's government will charge tourists up to $NZ35 for going into the country but says Australian citizens will be exempt.

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New Zealand's government will charge tourists up to $NZ35 for going into the country but says Australian citizens will be exempt.

Tourists to New Zealand are set to be stung with a new tax but Australians have been given a free pass.

From late next year, international visitors heading to New Zealand will pay between $NZ25 and $NZ35 ($A23 and $A33) to get into the country, the government announced on Friday.

However, Australian citizens and permanent residents, people from Pacific Islands Forum countries and children under two years old will be exempt.

The move reflects an ongoing debate within New Zealand about the environmental and infrastructure pressures put on the country by booming tourism growth.

In the year to April, about 3.8 million tourists visited New Zealand, a country with a population of about 4.7 million.

Of those, the biggest group were Australians, making up 39 per cent, or nearly 1.5 million visits.

Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage said she hoped visitors would understand.

"It's only fair that they make a small contribution so that we can help provide the infrastructure they need and better protect the natural places they enjoy," she said.

The tax is expected to raise up to $NZ80 million in the first year, with the money split between tourism infrastructure and conservation funding.

It will be collected through a newly proposed electronic travel registration process.

The announcement comes weeks after New Zealand's government revealed it would double the charge for those staying in huts on some of the country's most popular hikes.