Air New Zealand will operate charters from Nagoya and Okinawa in Japan to Auckland over the peak December-January tourist season.

The airline will use 223-seat Boeing 767 aircraft, bringing in an additional 1100 Japanese tourists to the country over summer, Chris Myers, general manager Japan for the airline, said.

The initiative is being supported by Tourism New Zealand, Auckland Airport, Asia's largest travel agency group JTB, the Okinawa Tourist Service, Kinki Nippon Tourist, Meitetsu World Travel, Club Tourism and Nokyo Tourist Corporation (CTS).

Air New Zealand has scheduled services from Tokyo and Osaka.