The first cruise ship of the New Zealand summer season has docked in Tauranga harbour on Saturday morning, bringing many smiles to locals.

The Majestic Princess arrived at the Port of Tauranga from Tahiti at 5.30am today, October 15 and will depart at 5.30pm with up to 3,560 passengers on board.

The cruise ship is heralding the return of an industry that has traditionally contributed millions of dollars to the country's economy each year.

A haka pōhiri was performed during a welcome for passengers and crew of the Majestic Princess. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Passengers were welcomed with a haka pōhiri from Te Reo Whakakoko o Mauao as they disembarked the ship at 8am. The group is affiliated with Tauranga Moana mana whenua from Ngāiterangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pūkenga and other iwi.

Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell was also at the port early to welcome the passengers as they stepped off the Majestic Princess. The first person to enter NZ this season aboard a cruise ship is Harold Ilg, from Naples, Florida, USA.

"I'm keen to find an ATM and then go on a bus around Tauranga," says Harold, who has visited Tauranga before.

MP for Tauranga Sam Uffindell welcoming Harold Ilg, the first cruise ship passenger to enter New Zealand this summer season. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

"It's absolutely fantastic to have cruise ships back in Tauranga," says Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell.

"We need this tourism boost and I'm sure businesses in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty wil be more than happy to see them."

Tourism Bay of Plenty had guides ready to assist passengers with information, and an information kiosk is available.

The vessel's arrival signals the start of what is expected to be a significant cruise season for New Zealand and the coastal Bay of Plenty, with many cruise companies reporting their strongest sales to date.

Information kiosk at the port to assist passengers. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Tourism Bay of Plenty General Manager and New Zealand Cruise Association Board member, Oscar Nathan, says it's a privilege to host the first of New Zealand's summer cruise manuhiri (visitors) and to impress them with the manaakitanga that the region is renowned for.

'It's a Bay tradition to acknowledge and celebrate these impressive ships and their passengers, so we're encouraging people to celebrate cruise ships being back in our waters by farewelling the Majestic Princess from vantage points such as Pilot Bay and Mauao.

'With approximately 171,000 cruise ship manuhiri and almost 73,000 crew members expected for the 2022/23 season, there will be a real buzz around the region with more people exploring the beautiful Bay of Plenty, which will be fantastic to see,” he says.

Tourism Bay of Plenty information guides Jan Innes, Julie Rau and Angela Sheppard. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

The financial impact of the two-year absence of cruise ships has been felt across New Zealand. The cruise industry injected $547 million into the country's economy in the 2019/20 cruise season, with most of that spend benefitting the tourism, transport, and retail sectors.

Port of Tauranga Chief Executive, Leonard Sampson, says the port is delighted to welcome cruise ships again. In total, 103 cruise ships are expected to dock in Tauranga this season.

'Cruise ship passengers are an important source of revenue for the Bay of Plenty and Waikato tourism industries, which have really suffered during the pandemic.

'They are also a spectacular sight for locals as they enter and depart Te Awanui Tauranga Harbour,” he says.

The Majestic Princess will be leaving Tauranga at 5.30pm on Saturday October 15, a sight enjoyed by many from Pilot Bay. Photo: Katie Cox.

The coastal Bay of Plenty has typically enjoyed the country's second-highest share of cruise spend, behind Auckland, with the last full summer cruise season (2018/19) contributing $89m to the local economy.

Recent research (August 2022) by Nexus Research shows that 76 per cent of Tauranga residents are happy to welcome cruise ship visitors because of the significant economic benefit and the vibrancy and cultural diversity the passengers and crew bring.

Majestic Princess arriving at Port of Tauranga on Saturday morning. Photo: Kelly Hunt.