The Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand, often shortened to YHA New Zealand, is a youth hostelling association in New Zealand. It is a member association of Hostelling International.
YHA New Zealand was established in 1932 in Canterbury by Cora Wilding. The national office is based in Christchurch, and the patron of the association is the Governor-General of New Zealand.
It operates 48 backpacker hostels, 23 of them in the North Island and 25 in the South Island. YHA New Zealand currently has 3 hostels with 5 Star Backpackers Accommodation Qualmark rating.
Tourism is a major industry in New Zealand. Tourism New Zealand said that 11% of visitors stay in backpacker's hostels. YHA New Zealand is one of the major providers of hostel accommodation within this market.
A national council was created in 1955. In 1965 there were 39 hostels and 7000 members.
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the organisation in 2007, Anand Satyanand, then Governor General, described it as a "standout New Zealand organisation" and "such an iconic feature of holidaying in New Zealand".
The YHA hostel in Wellington won the Hostelworld "Hoscar" prize for Best Hostel in Oceania in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 the YHA hostel in Rotorua won the award.
Sustainability
YHA New Zealand has placed a focus on sustainability.
The organisation has taken initiatives aimed at reducing organic waste, recycling, reducing emissions, energy reduction and reduction of water consumption. Initiatives include composting waste on site, separate disposal facilities for recyclable waste and intelligent flush systems in toilets. Energy reduction includes heat recovery from shower waste water and air-to-air heat recovery ventilation systems for condensation control
YHA Wellington was the first backpackers' hostel in New Zealand to achieve Qualmark's Enviro-Gold rating. YHA have gained Enviro-ratings for 10 of their hostels so far.