Airbnb introduces City Portal to New Zealand local governments

Airbnb is introducing the City Portal in New Zealand, giving local councils access to tools and data to help manage short-term rentals in their area. 

Informed by years of work with governments around the world, the City Portal is a first-of-its-kind resource providing Local Government Areas with tools, data insights, and one-to-one support to help them better understand Airbnb’s footprint in their communities.

Airbnb has a track record of innovative product design based on feedback from our hosts, guests, communities and policymakers. This purpose-built tool will help policymakers across New Zealand gain access to better data, leading to better policies.

Through the City Portal, local councils in New Zealand will be able to access key tools and resources, including;

• Data on the total number of active short-term rental listings in the area, the number of guests in a given month, insights into where guests are travelling from, the average amount an Airbnb guest spends per day and a list of the top businesses hosts are recommending in a specific area
• Easy access to Airbnb’s dedicated law enforcement portal where local police can submit legal requests for information, as well as Airbnb’s 24/7 Neighbourhood Support Line, so it can quickly and easily be shared with residents who want to report an issue to Airbnb
• Relevant resources and news for local government officials, including the ability to request a webpage on Airbnb.com with state and local regulatory and tax requirements, so hosts can easily look up this information

The City Portal will be offered to all councils across New Zealand on an opt-in basis as part of our ongoing efforts to work collaboratively with all levels of government to balance the benefits of home sharing with the needs of communities.

Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb Country Manager for New Zealand and Australia, said, “We’re bringing this innovative tool to New Zealand to help local councils better understand the role Airbnb plays in their community, so they have the data they need to make evidence-based decisions. 

“Airbnb welcomes regulation, and we’ve collaborated with governments around the world and in New Zealand on clear, fair rules for short-term rentals to ensure hosting on Airbnb and the economic activity it creates makes communities stronger. 

“We know in areas with significant tourism and seasonal economies, Airbnb is a key economic driver, but what we’ve heard from local mayors is they want to find the right balance. Better data is the starting point, which is why City Portal is such an important tool.”

Learn more about the City Portal.

Local governments interested in participating in the City Portal can apply here.