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.
December 19, 2019
Margin Fuel predicts rates will start to build again due to the holiday season, but will dip again in February.
Photo via Depositphotos.
2 min to read
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
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 →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →
Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →