Number of guest nights slides 3pc

Guest nights were down 3.1 per cent from June 2013 across Wairarapa, from 10,814 to 10,481, according to the latest figures.

The number of nights visitors spent in Wairarapa accommodation fell during June, according to latest figures.

The latest Statistics New Zealand Accommodation Survey revealed guest nights were down 3.1 per cent from June 2013 across Wairarapa, from 10,814 to 10,481.

The average length of stay was 1.85 days, down from 1.98 days last year.

The survey records the number of guests staying in hotels, motels, backpacker accommodation and holiday parks in New Zealand each month.

Each guest night is equivalent to one guest spending one night at an establishment.

Destination Wairarapa general manager David Hancock said although guest nights were down, guest arrivals were up by 3.8 per cent from last June.

Wairarapa was faring better for guest arrivals than Greater Wellington, Hawke's Bay and Taupo, he said.

"More people coming is great. We'd like to see them stay longer but [it was] the middle of June."

This April-June quarter was one of the best over the past five years, he said.

Nationwide, year-on-year guest night trends continued to rise, up 1.1 per cent on June last year.