Frequently Asked Questions

Applying for ADS Approval (ref: section 17 of the ADS Code of Conduct)

My company wants to apply for ADS approval, what should I do?
You need to follow each of the steps included in the "How to apply for ADS approval" section of the China Monitoring Unit webpage here.

Tour Guides (ref: section 11.7 of the ADS Code of Conduct)

I want to guide ADS tour groups, what are the requirements?
You need to demonstrate to Tourism New Zealand that you meet the following four separate requirements in order to be able to guide ADS tours. These four requirements are as follows:

1. English: you need to demonstrate to Tourism New Zealand that you meet the minimum standard of English in one of the following ways:
   
   • Provide an IELTS examination certificate confirming that you have achieved a minimum score of 5.0 in the Speaking and Listening sections, or
   • Supply evidence that you have successfully completed a NZQA level 5 qualification in New Zealand, or <
   • Supply a letter issued by Immigration New Zealand confirming that you have been approved New Zealand residence under either the General Skills or Skilled Migrant category. If you were included as the partner of a General Skills or Skilled Migrant category applicant, you need to demonstrate that you were assessed by Immigration New Zealand as having met the minimum English language standards.
     
   
   
2. Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation (ATTTO) awards: you need to successfully complete one of the below ATTTO qualifications:
   
   • National Award in Attraction Guiding and National Award in Excursion Guiding and the "Demonstrate Knowledge of New Zealand as a Tourist Destination" Unit Standard (ID Number: 18212), or
   • National Certificate in Tourism - Tour Leadership (level 4).
     
   
   
3. Immigration Status: you need to hold New Zealand citizenship, New Zealand residence status or a permit to work (as a tour guide) in New Zealand.
   
   
4. Experience: you need to have at least 6 months’ experience guiding inbound tours in New Zealand.

I am working as a tour guide in China. Can I guide ADS tours in New Zealand without having to meet these requirements?
No. You will need to meet each of the above mentioned requirements in order to be entitled to guide ADS tours in New Zealand.

I am a driver guide, do I have to meet the same requirements as for ADS tour guides if I want to guide ADS tour groups.
Yes. You will need to meet each of the above mentioned requirements in order to be entitled to guide ADS tours in New Zealand.

Who is "ATTTO"?
"ATTTO" stands for the "Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation". ATTTO is the Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation. ATTTO was established in 1994. As an industry training organisation, it is ATTTO’s job to work with industry partners to develop national qualifications and coordinate workplace training for the Aviation, Travel, Tourism and Museum industries. In 2007 ATTTO facilitated the workplace training of 4,500 trainees in over 460 businesses throughout New Zealand. To find out more about ATTTO, you can go to www.attto.org.nz.

Who do I contact to find out about ATTTO tour guiding qualifications?
You can contact ATTTO directly by phone on 04-4996570 or email on info@attto.org.nz

I have obtained similar qualification before, can I get recognition from my previous study?
You need to contact ATTTO directly about this.

Accommodation (ref: section 11.10 of the ADS Code of Conduct)

What accommodation requirements apply to ADS tour groups?
Only hotels that hold a Qualmark rating of 3 stars or higher, or self-contained accommodation that holds a Qualmark rating of 4 stars or higher, may be used to accommodate ADS tour groups.

How do I know whether or not an accommodation has been Qualmark assessed?
You can check it out from Qualmark website on www.qualmark.co.nz

Who is Qualmark?
Qualmark New Zealand Limited is New Zealand tourism's official quality agency. It is a government and private sector partnership between Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Automobile Association. Qualmark licenses professional and trustworthy New Zealand tourism businesses to use the Qualmark 'tourism's official quality mark' to help international and domestic travellers select places to stay, things to do and ways to get around.

Buses and Coaches (ref: section 11.5 of the ADS Code of Conduct)

What transportation requirements apply to ADS tour groups?
Only buses and coaches which:

• are clean, in good operating condition and in good repair, and
• have been assessed for and issued with the Bus & Coach Association Inc 3 star (or higher) standard grading certificate and which have affixed to the body of the vehicle the star rating decal issued by the Bus and Coach Association can be used to transport ADS tour groups, and
• have a current certificate of fitness and all other vehicle licences required by the New Zealand Transport Agency for a vehicle transporting tour groups, and
• are driven by an experienced driver who: a) holds all current licences or certificates required by the New Zealand Transport Agency for the driver of a vehicle transporting tour groups; and b) currently holds New Zealand citizenship, New Zealand residence status or a permit to work in New Zealand,

can be used to transport ADS tour groups.

What is the Bus and Coach Association?
The Bus and Coach Association (NZ) Inc. was first established in 1931. The Association represents all of the major and most of the smaller bus companies in New Zealand. The Bus and Coach Association, in conjunction with Vehicle Testing New Zealand, has developed a star grading system for coaches and buses which will make it easier for customers to compare the standards of service offered by individual bus and coach operators and will allow tour operators and travellers to select products in advance with confidence.

How many Bus and Coach Association star rated coaches are currently available?
As of March 2009 there are 622 coaches rated three stars or higher available in New Zealand. There are 326 three-star or higher rated coaches available in Auckland and 131 available in Christchurch. You can find out more about the star-rated coach providers by visiting the "coach grading" section of the Bus and Coach Association website: www.busandcoach.co.nz.

I want to get a star rating for my coach. What do I do?
You need to contact the Bus and Coach Association by phone on 04-4997334 or email on info@busandcoach.co.nz to enquire about their application process.

Tour Activities (ref: section 8.2.3 of the ADS Code of Conduct)

How many tour activities have to be included in ADS itinerary?
A North Island tour must include at least 2 paid activities (referred to in the Code as "inclusions"). Each paid inclusion must have a minimum charge (i.e. advertised retail price) to visitors of $25 per person. A South Island tour must include either two paid inclusions, or one paid and one optional inclusion or two optional inclusions. A North and South Island tour must include either four paid inclusions; or three paid inclusions and one optional inclusion; or two paid inclusions and two optional inclusions.

Shopping Time (ref: section 8.2.3 of the ADS Code of Conduct)

How much time can ADS tour groups spend in organised shopping?
The maximum organised shopping time for each ADS tour is either: i) 1.5 hours of organised shopping time per full day spent in NZ plus one Duty Free Shop visit per visit to NZ; or ii) 3 hours of organised shopping time spread over two consecutive full days spent in NZ plus one Duty Free visit per visit to NZ. The amount of time spent at any single organised shopping venue may not exceed 1.5 hours.

Code of Conduct

What other requirements apply to ADS tours?
The ADS Code of Conduct covers all of the requirements that apply to ADS tours. For a copy of complete ADS Code of Conduct, please view and download here.