New Zealand's Tourism Industry Association is calling the government's proposed tourist levy unworkable.

Labour's pre-election policy would see international visitors pay a 25-dollar-tax at the border.

But Tourism Industry Aotearoa CEO Chris Roberts said that would be practically impossible.

''You can buy a ticket to New Zealand from any airline that is operating anywhere in the world, and they are not going to offer one price if you can show you're a New Zealand resident or have a New Zealand passport, and then another for everybody else.''

LISTEN ABOVE AS CHRIS ROBERTS SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING