Air New Zealand has just announced an evolution of its Airpoints scheme, rebranding it as Koru from April 2026. The update introduces refreshed tiers, enhanced recognition, and new ways to share benefits with friends and loved ones. Existing Airpoints members will see their earned Airpoints Dollars and Status Points carry over seamlessly, and current tier status (Silver, Gold, or Elite) will transition directly into the new structure. If you're a paid Koru Club member, your membership continues unchanged.
Spotlight on the Higher Tiers: Gold, Platinum, and Black
Koru Gold (transition from current Gold)
- Familiar Star Alliance Gold benefits remain, plus:
- Status Points Top-Up – Air New Zealand will gift up to 30 status points if you're just shy of retaining Gold (once every three years).
- Status Rewards - Unlock a reward when you reach a Status Points milestone within your tier.
- 30% weighting on OneUp upgrade bids.
Interestingly Koru Gold membership will not include access to the new Koru Premier lounge in Auckland (when it opens).
Koru Platinum (transition from current Elite)
- All current Elite perks carry over, plus:
- Enhanced Status Rewards at milestones (more rewarding gifts from early 2026).
- Status Points Top-Up – Air New Zealand will gift up to 50 status points if you're just shy of retaining Platinum (once every three years).
- Exclusive access to the new Koru Premier Lounge in Auckland International (opening late 2026) – a premium space above the standard Koru lounges.
- 50% weighting on OneUp upgrade bids.
Koru Black – The New Pinnacle Tier
Koru Black requires 3,200 Status Points (at least 1,920 from qualifying flights) includes everything from Platinum, plus:
- Koru Circle sharing (choose one package):
- Family Package: One Koru Black Nominee + dependants under 30.
- Friends Package: Two Koru Black Nominees.
- Nominees enjoy priority check-in/boarding, extra baggage, Fast Bag, frequent flyer seating, and lounge access (space available, when travelling on Air NZ flights). Black Nominees can even bring their own guest + children.
- Additional Koru Platinum Nominee – a separate invitation for one person to enjoy Platinum-level perks.
- Increased Recognition Upgrades: Three full + two short-haul per membership year.
- More Valet Parking Vouchers.
- 60% weighting on OneUp upgrade bids.
- Status Points Top-Up (up to 70 points gifted by Air New Zealand once every three years in your just shy of retaining Koru Black).
- Special Status Rewards including a potential Koru Black “banked year” or curated experiences.
- Unlimited Koru lounge access for you, your Koru Circle, and up to three guests and three children.
- Interim perks right now: Anyone qualifying for what will become Koru Black before April 2026 receive s extra Recognition Upgrades, valet vouchers, and trial express security lanes at Auckland Domestic Airport between 19 and 28 November 2025.
Initial Impressions
Innovation is welcome, and the new Koru Black tier will initially attract the attention of existing Elite members. The Koru Circle is the highlight of Koru Black and it will be interesting to see whether existing Elite members see significant value in it. The ability to share some Koru Black and Platinum perks with family or friends to use when they aren't travelling with the primary Koru Black member may have limited practical application.
