Specialist Programmes
Kiwi Specialist Programme for Travel Sellers in North America
If you are a travel seller and reside in North America, you may be eligible for our Kiwi Specialist Programme.
Tourism New Zealand’s Kiwi Specialist programme has assisted thousands of travel sellers increase their knowledge, capability, and sales of Destination New Zealand.
Once accredited, your membership will be renewed each year, providing you have continued to maintain the membership criteria, outlined below.
Purpose of the Programme
Participation in the programme provides a number of advantages to those working in the travel trade:
- Increased knowledge of the regions in New Zealand, including each region's unique selling points and how to build them into an itinerary
- Improved capability to plan, promote and sell quality New Zealand holidays
- Invitations to Tourism New Zealand events in your region
- A certificate for display, so that customers can see at a glance that you have taken time to become a specialist on New Zealand holidays
- Use of the Kiwi Specialist logo each year that your membership is valid, to give you improved credibility in the marketplace. If you are an existing Kiwi Specialist please visit the E-See website to request the logo.
- Knowledge and confidence to up-sell New Zealand, leading to increased profitability and value of New Zealand holiday sales for your business
Who can become a Kiwi Specialist and What is the Fee?
- All travel sellers packaging and selling New Zealand
- Managers, product planners and frontline staff of travel companies that plan and sell New Zealand itineraries
Kiwi Specialist accreditation is awarded to individuals. Businesses are encouraged to utilise the Programme as a way of ensuring their staff have the most up to date knowledge of Destination New Zealand.
There is no fee to join the programme.
How to become a Kiwi Specialist
The first step is to create an account on this website.
Once you have registered, you can add the Kiwi Specialist programme to your account, and begin working through the Membership Criteria.
Creating an account is free, and gives you access to all the services we provide on the Travel Trade website. To get started, all you need is a valid e-mail address, and access to the internet to complete the online module component of the programme.
If you already have an account on this website, simply log in, go to "My Account" at the top of the page, and then to the Kiwi Specialist Programme tab. The Programme is only available to travel sellers, so only travel sellers will see the Kiwi Specialist tab in their account section.
Membership Criteria 1: Complete a minimum of 10 online training modules within the last 2 years
These can be found in the Training section of this website. We customise some of our modules so they are relevant to our travel seller's market. To see the modules specifically selected for North America, make sure you have selected North America as your market at the top of this website.
If you are based in North America, but sell to customers from another market (e.g. United Kingdom) you can elect to do the modules for market instead, by changing the market at the top of the page. Your modules will still count towards your accreditation into the North America Kiwi Specialist Programme.
Membership Criteria 2: Have visited New Zealand within the past three years
We believe nothing that to be a true New Zealand specialist you need to visit the country.
To fulfil this criteria, you need to provide proof of a visit to New Zealand that you have done within the last three years. Examples of proof are:
- The Boarding Pass you used on your flight to or from New Zealand
- A relevant Passport stamp
- Your PNR number
You can show this to your local Tourism New Zealand representative in person, or scan a your passport page / Boarding Pass then email the image to us.
Membership Criteria 3: Attend one Tourism New Zealand training initiative in the past 12 months
These include:
- Kiwi Link event
- Frontline training
- In-house training (if Tourism New Zealand have come to your office to conduct training)
- Familiarisation
- Pariticipation in online training (such as a 'Webinar)
Please contact your local Kiwi Specialist coordinator to let them on any training sessions you have done in the past year. The best way to do this is via email.
If you have not attended a training session, you will need to do so before you become eligible for Kiwi Specialist status. If you are unable to attend a training session please contact your local Kiwi Specialist coordinator to discuss alternative options.
What Happens Once You Have Completed all Criteria
Once all three Membership Criteria have been achieved and validated by Tourism New Zealand we will post you a Kiwi Specialist Certificate in the mail, so make sure the postal address you gave us when you registered is correct.
If you have not received your certificate within four weeks after you have completed all three criteria, please contact your local Tourism New Zealand office.
Your membership lasts for twelve months. At the end of that time, Tourism New Zealand will check your account, and if you still meet our membership Criteria, a new certificate will automatically be issued and mailed to the postal address that we have on file.
If you no longer meet our membership Criteria, you will be sent an email two month prior to your expiry date, with a reminder to update your account with us.
How to Maintain Your Kiwi Specialist Status
To maintain your status, all you need to do is meet two Criteria:
Maintenance Criteria 1: Have done at least ten (10) modules
Once you have achieved 100% in a module test, it is recorded as "complete" for two years. You must have ten modules listed as "complete" in your account to maintain your Kiwi Specialist status.
You can login to your account to check your module status, and if you have less than ten marked as "complete", you'll need to do a few more to bring your total back up to ten.
We continually update our modules, so even if you have done one before, it's worthwhile going through again to test your knowledge. Or you may choose to do a Special Interest module if available for your market.
Maintenance Criteria 2: Have visited New Zealand within the last three years
If it's been more than three years since you last visited, it's about time you came back! Submit evidence of your visit in person, by post, email or upload when logged into your Travel Trade website account (see Membership Criteria 2 above for more detail).
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I receive when I become a Kiwi Specialist?
Once you have attained the status of Kiwi Specialist, you will be sent a certificate, valid for the current one year period, plus access to the Kiwi Specialist logo.
I got a certificate emailed to me when I completed the ten training modules - is this the Kiwi Specialist certificate?
How do I know what modules I have completed and what modules to do to retain my status?
You can login to the Trade website to review the modules you have completed, and choose new ones to do.
How do I keep a record of the training sessions I have attended and when I last visited New Zealand?
You will need to inform your local Kiwi Specialist coordinator if you have travelled to New Zealand or attended any training sessions so they can update your records.
Sometimes your records may be automatically updated - for example if you have attended a famil to New Zealand, however it’s always best to check. You can do this via email. Make sure you include the name of the training session, location and date attended, or the dates you visited New Zealand and supply evidence of your visit (See Membership Criteria 2, above for more information on how to do this).
I have changed my address, phone number or company - how do I update this information?
Update this information by logging into your account on the Trade website. It is important to keep your contacts updated as that is where we will send your Kiwi Specialist information and certificate.
How long is my specialist certification valid for?
Your membership is valid for one year.
Where can I get and use the Specialist logo?
Kiwi Specialist travel sellers are able to request use of our Kiwi Specialist logo from the E-See website. When you apply for it, you must state where you want to use it, and accept the associated terms and conditions. We encourage you to use this logo on your personal business cards, brochures and promotional material.
Why can’t I see my listing on www.newzealand.com under NZ Specialists?
Once you have registered to list on www.newzealand.com (using this link: http://register.nztb.co.nz) your registration will go through a validation process that can take up to 3 weeks. You then need to login and update your listing at least once a year to keep it valid. Otherwise your listing will expire - this is to ensure we do not advertise companies on the website that no longer trade.
What training modules are online?
The key module is called How to Sell New Zealand. This is the first module you should do. After that you should work through the nine regional modules before starting any 'special interest' modules that are currently available. Go to our Training section to begin.
Key Modules:
1. How to Sell New Zealand
2. Auckland & Northland
3. Eastern North Island
4. Central North Island
5. Western North Island
6. Wellington and Wairarapa
7. Nelson and Marlborough
8. Christchurch, Canterbury & West Coast
9. Dunedin, Coastal Otago & Southland
10. Queenstown, Fiordland & Central Otago
For More Questions Contact Your Local Kiwi Specialist Coordinator
For any questions regarding the Kiwi Specialist Programme please email your local Tourism New Zealand Kiwi Specialist coordinator, at our Los Angeles office.
