The number of visitors spending the night in Christchurch is almost back at pre-earthquake levels, thanks largely to the growth in Airbnb users.
More visitors are spending the night in Christchurch after years of quake-related shortfalls. Photo: RNZ / Logan Church
Figures released by Christchurch NZ, an economic development agency, showed a fifth of all accommodation bookings in Christchurch were now made through Airbnb, compared with 32.5 percent in Auckland and 10 percent in Queenstown.
The number of available units in the garden city had almost doubled in the last year to 2035.
Christchurch NZ spokesperson Rowan Worner said the rise of Airbnb was giving tourists more accommodation options while they stayed in the city.
"There was a feeling anecdotally Airbnb use was rising, [that was] proven to be correct," he said.
Mr Worner said the growing number of visitors using Airbnb - combined with traditional hotel and motel stays - was bringing guest nights back to pre-earthquake levels.
"We know there are lots of different types of travellers, who require different types of accommodation and this growth is obviously filling a need."
Mr Worner visitor spending was also up, with a 3.7 percent increase during the year leading to September 2017.
Earlier the Queenstown Lake District Council voted unanimously on a plan to slice the number of nights some homeowners can rent out their houses on short-term platforms like Airbnb.