Tourists in the South have cost the government nearly $3 million in ACC payouts in the past two years due to injuries sustained while visiting the country. In 2024, there were 8575 new claims by visitors, while there had been 7035 claims lodged last year up to the end of the October. This was a major jump from the Covid-affected years of 2021 and 2022, where there were 1167 and 3651 new claims lodged respectively. In total, ACC paid out more than $5.38m in 2024 and $4.85m up to October to visiting claimants — about a third of those payouts occurred in Otago. Although visiting ACC claims cost about $1.5m a year in Otago, international visitor spend across Otago on cards was $750m, Mr Woods said.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 13, 2026 15:38 UTC