Stewart Island Visitor Levy
Stewart Island/Rakiura is a destination for a large number of short-term visitors. To better provide for services, facilities, amenities for island visitors, or mitigate environmental effects, there is a visitor levy.
Why a visitor levy?
Stewart Island/Rakiura has a small resident population, but it is a destination for a large number of short-term visitors. Southland District Council (Stewart Island/Rakiura Visitor Levy) Empowering Act 2012 was passed into law on 26 March 2012, empowering Council to set and collect levies and obtain revenue from visitors to Stewart Island/Rakiura. Under the act, funds must be used to better provide services, facilities, amenities for island visitors, or mitigate environmental effects.
Who pays?
All individuals travelling to Stewart Island/Rakiura, including freedom travellers, must pay the levy or pay revenue to an Approved Operator unless they are exempt under the following:
- residents, ratepayers and tenants of Stewart Island/Rakiura and their spouses, civil union partners,
de facto partners, or dependents; - beneficiaries of the Rakiura Māori Land Trust or individuals who have an ownership interest in a
Māori land block on the island; - visitors who remain on the island for any continuous period of 21 days or more;
- owners of a transport vessel or individuals employed under contract to work on a transport vessel;
- individuals whose visit is entirely within the boundaries of the Rakiura National Park; or
- persons under the age of 18 years on the date of arrival on the island.
Application for exemption
To receive a Southland District Council photo identification card download the application form below or, collect one from a Southland District Council office.
Application For a Photo Identification Card (Exemption from Stewart Island Rakiura Visitor Levy)
Send a completed application form to:
Southland District Council PO Box 903, Invercargill 9840 or email sdc@southlanddc.govt.nz with a colour passport photo of each applicant.
Applicants are also required to provide documentation which proves their exemption. Examples of accepted documentation to prove exemption status are set out in Appendix A in the attached policy.
Stewart Island Rakiura Visitor Levy Policy