Auckland (The NZ Today)
Labour has announced plans to allow citizens of Pacific Island Forum countries to travel to New Zealand using the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) system, removing the need to apply for a traditional visitor visa.
Under the proposed policy, eligible Pacific travellers would be able to visit New Zealand for up to three months at a time, similar to arrangements available for citizens of other visa-waiver countries.
Labour deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni told RNZ that the proposal recognised the close connections between New Zealand and Pacific nations, particularly the movement of families between countries.
She said the current visa process created financial and administrative barriers for Pacific families with strong links to New Zealand.
The announcement comes as Immigration New Zealand figures show Pacific nationals account for a growing share of people overstaying their visas, despite an overall decline in the number of overstayers.
According to INZ figures, the total estimated overstayer population has fallen by 8.7 percent, but the proportion from Pacific Island countries has increased from 25 percent to 26 percent.
The data estimates there are around 19,153 visa overstayers in New Zealand, including approximately 2,541 people from Tonga and 1,462 from Samoa.
For temporary visa arrivals between June 2023 and June 2026, the estimated overstayer rate was 2.14 percent for Tongans and 1.25 percent for Samoans, compared with an overall average of 0.13 percent.
Sepuloni said the proposed visa waiver would not remove immigration obligations, with travellers still expected to comply with entry conditions and leave New Zealand within the permitted period.
“The expectation is that the rules still apply, and our expectation is that people will follow them,” she said.
The policy announcement follows New Zealand First’s proposal for a two-year clemency period for Pacific overstayers, with leader Winston Peters saying visa-free travel could be considered in the future.
The Green Party has also indicated support for expanding visa-free access for Pacific nations, while National has not yet announced its position.
Pacific advocate Arthur Anae, who has campaigned for easier travel arrangements, welcomed the growing political support, saying Pacific communities wanted equal treatment and fewer barriers for family events and travel.
Source: RNZ, Labour Party policy announcement; Immigration New Zealand overstayer data.
