CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — UnionPay International (“UPI” or “the Company”), a global leader in payment solutions, announced a partnership with New Zealand’s Cardrona & Treble Cone ski resort to officially launch UnionPay credit card online acceptance starting May 16, 2025. The Cardrona Alpine Resort, soon to be the largest in New Zealand following its expansion into the Soho Basin and the addition of a new six-seater chairlift, will offer global UnionPay cardholders a smoother booking and payment experience during the peak snow and ice tourism season. The partnership allows visitors to make pre-trip reservations and better plan their ski vacations, while also supporting the continued growth of New Zealand’s snow and ice tourism industry.
As the Northern Hemisphere enters summer, New Zealand has become a popular off-season destination for ski enthusiasts. UnionPay cardholders can now use UnionPay credit cards as one of the major booking methods on the official Cardrona & Treble Cone ski resort website , where ski passes, sightseeing gondola tickets, ski lessons, and other services are available for purchase. UnionPay is also fully accepted for in-person payments at the resort, including at ski apartment, restaurants, equipment rental shops, ski schools, and customer service centres.
Owned by RealNZ Tourism Group, the largest tourism company on the South Island, Cardrona & Treble Cone are two of New Zealand’s best-known ski resorts. The Cardrona’s new ski Basin is set to open at the end of June 2025, at which point Cardrona will become the largest ski area in the country. It also serves as a designated off-season training base for several national ski teams and regularly attracts world-class athletes.
UnionPay has operated in New Zealand since 2008, partnering with major banks and financial institutions including ANZ, BNZ, Westpac, ASB Bank, and Windcave. It is accepted at approximately 93% of merchants nationwide, covering around 93,000 locations across sectors such as dining, shopping, hotels, entertainment, and travel. UnionPay cards can be used at approximately 2,360 ATMs, representing 91% of the market, and at almost 100,000 contactless terminals with an estimated 81% contactless coverage. These services meet the daily cash withdrawal and spending needs of UnionPay cardholders who also have access to a range of ongoing promotions and benefits throughout New Zealand.
UnionPay is confident that global cardholders will have a smoother booking and payment experience during their trip to New Zealand now and in the future, while also supporting the development of the country’s snow and ice tourism economy.
About UnionPay International
UnionPay International (UPI) is a subsidiary of China UnionPay, dedicated to expanding and supporting UnionPay’s global business. With partnerships across 2,600 institutions worldwide, UnionPay cards are accepted in 183 countries and regions, with issuance in 84 of them. UPI delivers high-quality, cost-effective, and secure cross-border payment solutions to the world’s largest cardholder base, ensuring seamless local services for global cardholders and merchants.
