Making Trans-Tasman travel seamless

By making it easier for Australians to visit New Zealand and explore our cities and regions.

Growing New Zealand’s tourism industry is a critical part of National’s plan to fix the basics and build the future. Tourism is our second-largest export earner and supports around one in nine jobs.

To support our shared tourism industry to keep growing, a re-elected National Government will work with Australia to trial seamless travel for Australian and New Zealand citizens travelling between the two countries. Making it easier for Australians to visit New Zealand means more visitors exploring our cities and regions which results in more incomes for local businesses, more job opportunities for New Zealanders, and a stronger economy.

National has already put the foundations in place for seamless travel. In 2009, the National-led Government officially launched SmartGate for trans-Tasman passengers. This was the first step in streamlining travel between the two countries.

How it would work

Eligible travellers (Australian and New Zealand passport holders) will provide their passport and travel details digitally before departure, building on information already provided to airlines and through the New Zealand Traveller Declaration.

Complete their New Zealand Traveller Declaration before flying, allowing immigration, customs and biosecurity information to be assessed earlier.

Have their eligibility and identity checked digitally, with travellers requiring further examination removed from the streamlined pathway.

Use a dedicated trans-Tasman arrival pathway at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown airports, which are supported by existing eGate and facial-recognition technology.

Continue to meet all New Zealand biosecurity and customs requirements, including baggage inspection where required. Seamless immigration processing does not mean bypassing biosecurity. Travellers would still have to make the same declarations and could still have baggage inspected or be referred to an officer.