For the year to February 436,700 Chinese visitors came to New Zealand, slightly up on the previous year, but visitation over Chinese New Year was down.
Chinese visitor numbers took a dive in February, largely due to fewer arrivals during Chinese New Year.
Latest figures from Statistics NZ show the number of arrivals from China was 50,900 in February, down 26 per cent on the previous year when New Zealand welcomed a record 68,900 Chinese.
The lower numbers were partially offset by increases from Korea, Australia and Taiwan.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Stephen England-Hall said globally the tourism market was expected to soften this year, and the Chinese market was notoriously volatile.