New Zealand to fight for UK visit rights

The New Zealand Government is to formally object to the sweeping visa changes curtailing the rights of Kiwis to work, study and travel in Britain according to stuff.co.nz. Under the changes, the six- month visa-free period of New Zealanders visiting Britain for tourism or business purposes will be reduced to three months. New Zealand film crews and academics will also lose their rights to enter Britain visa-free for up to 12 months and an estimated 2000 Kiwis each year will no longer be entitled to the ancestry visa, which entitles them to live and work in Britain for four years if their grandparents were born there.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who is expected to raise the issue with British officials when she travels to London next month, said New Zealand had made a formal submission to the British Government opposing the six-month visa changes and would raise its objections to the ancestral visa soon. “While New Zealand understands the United Kingdom’s efforts to ensure its immigration regime is robust, a reduction in the length of time New Zealand citizens can visit without seeking a visa would be of serious concern,” Ms Clark said.

The Government had stressed the historical ties between New Zealand and Britain and reiterated the small immigration risk posed by New Zealanders. It believed the policy proposal to reduce the six-month visa-free period was driven by problems created by nationals of other countries.