New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
6 September 2024
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
Anna
T +64 4 439 8000
F +64 4 472 9596
[FYI request #27814 email]
OIA 29572
Tēnā koe Anna
Thank you for your email of 25 July 2024 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
1) Does the New Zealand government plan to consider negotiating with the Australian
government to improve the conditions for New Zealand permanent residents to eliminate
the current imbalance?
2) Are there specific measures or strategies included in the recently adopted "Trans-Tasman
Roadmap to 2035" aimed at addressing this issue? Will this matter be resolved in the near
future?
3)Has this issue been raised in the "Trans-Tasman Roadmap to 2035" and is there a
timeline for resolving it, particularly as per point 18 of the Joint Statement: Australia-New
Zealand Leaders’ Meeting 2023, which mentioned the establishment of a joint working
group to report by the end of June 2024(Joint-Statement-ANZLM-2…)?
On 22 August 2024, the timeframes for responding to your request were extended by an
additional 20 working days due to the consultations necessary to make a decision on your request
(section 15A(1)(b) of the OIA refers).
There has always been a strong movement of people between New Zealand and Australia. The
Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement (TTTA) is a cornerstone of this aspect of the relationship. It is
not a binding treaty, and both countries recognise that the rights afforded to third country
citizens is a matter of national sovereignty. In line with the principles of the TTTA, both countries
implement relatively seamless visa granting processes and related access to services, for the
other to an extent which is unlike any other international relationship that Australia or
New Zealand has.
The situation for New Zealanders in Australia is an ongoing focus for the New Zealand
Government. In recent years this has focused on the rights of New Zealand citizens. In July 2023,
Australia and New Zealand committed to a new, direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders
in Australia. These changes are the biggest step forward in this area for a generation and will
improve the lives of many New Zealanders who choose to live in Australia. Over 180,000
New Zealand-born Australian residents are already Australian citizens. This pathway is open to
most New Zealand citizens, including those who become citizens after holding permanent
residency.
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
Page 2 of 2
Ensuring that movement of people across the Tasman is as free as possible remains a priority for
both sides. As you note, this is reflected in the Trans-Tasman Roadmap to 2035, which recognises
that the free movement of citizens between our two countries under the TTTA is a foundation for
our people-to-people links. As such, the Roadmap commits our Governments to continue to work
together to provide fair and inclusive treatment of each other’s citizens.
Regarding the 2023 Australia – New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting Joint Statement reference to
establishment of a working group, this was focused on initiatives to move closer towards
seamless travel across the Tasman from a technical customs and border processes perspective.
The working group was not focused on immigration policies.
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information
requests where possible. Therefore, our response to your request (with your personal information
removed) may be published on the Ministry website:
www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/contact-
us/official-information-act-responses/
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Corbett
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
