UPDATED: Wellington, NZ — A petition led by former Member of Parliament Arthur Anae is calling on the New Zealand House of Representatives to allow Pacific Islanders to enter the country on a three-month visitor visa issued upon arrival.
The petition, published on 2 February 2025, is set to close within the next 24 hours. It urges Parliament to review current visa requirements and extend the same treatment to Pacific nations as is currently granted to more than 60 countries eligible for the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).
It comes as the Luxon government rolls out new immigration changes making it easier for Chinese and Pacific nationals to visit New Zealand from Australia without a visitor visa.
From 3 November, Chinese and Pacific Islands Forum country passport holders travelling from Australia can enter New Zealand visa-free for up to three months, provided they hold a valid eligible Australian visa and obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).
The policy is being trialled for 12 months and is part of broader efforts to streamline travel and boost tourism.
To qualify, travellers must:
- Be arriving from Australia
- Hold a Chinese or Pacific Islands Forum country passport
- Have a valid eligible Australian visa at the time of check-in (not including transit through Australia)
- Possess a valid NZeTA
In July, New Zealand extended the multi-entry visitor visa to two years. The $341 visa allows stays of up to six months per visit, with the option to study for up to three months. Applications are usually processed within two weeks, a report by PMN says.
“Pacific travellers with a valid Australian visitor visa will soon be able to visit New Zealand for up to three months, provided they purchase an electronic travel authority for $17.”
Anae’s proposal specifically includes citizens from Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
He argues that Pacific peoples are New Zealand’s closest neighbours, with deep historical ties, shared wartime service, and a long-standing contribution to the country’s development since the 1940s.
“The 1970s Dawn Raids targeted us, yet research later showed Pacific people were a minority of overstayers but the majority of prosecutions,” Anae stated in the petition. “I believe there is discrimination towards people of the Pacific which must end.”
The petition has gained traction among Pacific communities and advocates for immigration reform, who say the current visa system unfairly disadvantages Pacific Islanders despite their longstanding relationship with New Zealand.
If successful, the petition could lead to a significant shift in New Zealand’s immigration policy, making travel easier for thousands of Pacific citizens and strengthening regional ties.
