Last updated April 24, 2026
Update: This article was originally published around the time of THL's acquisition of Kea Campers and United Campervans. The takeover completed on November 1, 2012. Here's what happened and where things stand today.
What Happened
Tourism Holdings Limited (THL) — the New Zealand-based travel company behind Britz, maui, and Mighty campervans — acquired Kea Campers and United Campervans, completing the deal on November 1, 2012. At the time, THL was the largest campervan operator in the Southern Hemisphere, and the acquisition of Kea and United strengthened its position further.
The deal brought two well-regarded brands into the THL family:
- Kea Campers — a New Zealand-focused brand known for quality campervans aimed at international visitors
- United Campervans — a value-oriented brand operating in both New Zealand and Australia
What It Means for Travellers
Both Kea and United continued to operate under their own brand names after the takeover. THL's strategy has generally been to preserve brand identity while centralising operations, maintenance, and reservations systems behind the scenes.
For travellers booking Kea or United campervans, the day-to-day experience — pickup, vehicle quality, roadside assistance — continued largely unchanged. The main benefit was access to THL's larger fleet and depot network.
THL Today
Since the 2012 acquisitions, THL has grown significantly. In November 2022, THL completed a merger with Apollo Tourism & Leisure, one of Australia's largest campervan operators. The combined group now operates across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada.
THL brands as of 2026 include:
- Britz (Australia and New Zealand)
- maui (Australia and New Zealand)
- Mighty (Australia and New Zealand)
- Kea Campers (New Zealand)
- United Campervans (New Zealand and Australia)
- Apollo (Australia)
- Cheapa Campa (Australia)
- Star RV (Australia and New Zealand)
- RoadBear RV (USA)
- Canadream (Canada)
- Just Go Motorhomes and Auto Europe (UK and Europe)
THL is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) and is by far the largest campervan rental company in the Southern Hemisphere.
Choosing Between THL Brands in New Zealand
If you're booking a campervan in New Zealand, you'll likely be choosing between several THL brands. Here's a rough guide to positioning:
- maui — Premium tier. Best vehicles, newest fleet, highest prices.
- Britz — Mid-to-premium. Good quality, wide range including 4WD options.
- Mighty — Budget-to-mid. Good value for longer trips.
- Kea — Mid-range. Strong reputation, particularly with European visitors.
- United — Budget. Older fleet at competitive prices.
Since they all share maintenance infrastructure and depot networks, the vehicles across brands are generally reliable — the main differences are vehicle age, spec level, and price.
