Related: New Zealand Rental Rates Dropped for Winter, Report Finds
New Zealand Christmas Rates Trending Lower on Strong Comps
Rates at New Zealand’s three major airports for the Christmas season are experiencing an average rate decrease of 1% compared to 2018, a strong season.

Margin Fuel predicts rates will start to build again due to the holiday season, but will dip again in February.
Photo via Depositphotos.
Margin Fuel’s November Market Insight Report reveals that overall rental rates deceased by 9%, year over year.
Margin Fuel released the following data:
The average rate for Auckland Airport -10% YoY
Christchurch Airport average rate was -4% YoY
Queenstown Airport average rate was -8% YoY
At the Auckland Airport, Net Agent OTA sales channel average rate was lower by 8% than the previous year; the Gross Agent OTA and the direct sales channels showed decreases of 13% and 8%, respectively.
The average rate for three-day duration decreased by 7% , while the average rate for a seven-day rental period was -11%, and 14-day period -13%.
The average rate for SUVs in Auckland decreased 11% year over year. All other categories showed average rates of between -2% and -11%.
At Christchurch, Net Agent OTA sales channel average rate increased 1%, while Gross Agent OTA and the direct sales channels showed decreases of 9% and 4%, respectively. The average rate for three-day duration decreased 5%, while the average rate for longer seven-day and 14-day durations were both lower by 3%.
The average rate for SUVs decreased 11%, with all other categories showing average rates of between +2% and -2%.
The Net Agent OTA sales reported that at the Queenstown Airport, the average rate decreased 1%. The Gross Agent OTA and the direct sales channels showed decreases of 18% and 6%, respectively.
The average rate for a three-day rental decreased 9%, while the average rate for seven-day and 14-day rentals decreased 7% and 6%, respectively. The average rate for SUVs decreased 9%. All other categories showed a decrease between 3% and 7%
During this winter season, average rental rates for seven- and 14-day durations are expected to increase, as are rates for the smaller vehicle categories.
Year to date analysis shows November 2019 was the weakest month compared to the previous year, with average rates dropping between 4% and 10% across all three locations.
Margin Fuel predicts rates will start to build again due to the holiday season, but will dip again in February.
More Rental Operations

Turo and Tesla Take the Next Step Toward Autonomous Car Rentals
The partnership brings Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology into the rental experience, offering a glimpse of how increasingly automated vehicles could change car rental.
Read More →
How Rental Operators Can Navigate Personalized Pricing Rules
As regulators scrutinize the use of customer data in pricing, rental operators need to know whether they can explain why one renter pays more than another.
Read More →
Direct, Broker or Hybrid? How Travel Retailers Source Rental Cars
As travel retailers weigh direct supplier relationships against third-party distribution, rental operators need to understand how those decisions affect their business.
Read More →
How Did This Independent Rental Operator Grow to 170 Vehicles in 4 Years?
With 170 vehicles across three Kentucky locations, Joel Price relies on an overseas team to handle reservations, payments, and after-hours customer service. It's one part of an unconventional approach to growing an independent rental operation.
Read More →
What Does It Take to Succeed in B2B Rentals?
The fundamentals may be familiar to daily car rental operators, but project-based truck rentals put different demands on the fleet and the business.
Read More →
NPR Builds on International Partnerships to Grow Rental Bookings
With Ana Laborde supporting broker development, NPR Auto Group is tailoring distribution strategies, rate packages, and partnerships to grow international reservations across its three brands.
Read More →
Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study
While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.
Read More →
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
