Auckland accom stats down 8pc, South Island up

A fall in August guest nights in the North Island was offset by a small increase in accommodation numbers in the South Island. Photo / Wairarapa Times Age.

Guest nights in accommodation in the North Island fell 3 per cent in August, with Auckland numbers down 8 per cent compared with last year, says Statistics NZ.

Across the nation, things were little changed during the month, with the drop in North Island visitors largely balancing out a jump in those people staying in South Island accommodation.

Both international and domestic guest nights in the North Island were down, with the number of overseas guests falling 7 per cent.

Over the same period, South Island guest nights were up 4 per cent, with international guest nights up 6 per cent and domestic guest nights up 3 per cent.

Seven of the 12 regions experienced an increase in guest nights, with Otago and
Canterbury recorded the largest increase, while the Auckland region recorded the largest decrease, down 8 per cent.

There were better numbers for four of the five different accommodation types recorded by Stats NZ. Backpackers and hostels were down 5 per cent, while motels enjoyed a 1 per cent increase in guests from the same month last year.

Hotels had the highest occupancy rate (49 per cent) of all the accommodation types in August 2009, followed by motels (41 per cent), and backpackers/hostels (32 per cent).

- NZ HERALD STAFF