Coalition Against Travel Taxes

In November 2006, New Zealand's major tourism organisations formed the Coalition Against Travel Taxes (CATT) to fight Government proposals to tax travellers to fund a new or redeveloped stadium in Auckland.

Every member of the Coalition fully supported the Rugby World Cup 2011 and looked forward to it being a huge success.

But the Coalition opposed taxing travellers, many of whom would not benefit from a stadium. CATT argued that if the stadium was a national asset, like Te Papa, it should be nationally funded.

Government says nothing decided on stadium funding

Tourism industry unites in opposition to Auckland traveller taxes

Stadium welcomed but traveller taxes are unfair, poorly targetted and bad for the Auckland economy

Our opposition to travel taxes was ultimately successful, as the Government ruled out the use of bed and airport taxes to fund the redevelopment of Eden Park.