Nicola Willis says Greens' claim of $700m KiwiSaver hole ‘wrong', cost could be fraction of that
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Green Party's claim that KiwiSaver changes could cost the Government up to $714 million is 'wrong'.
Willis said cost would be 'vastly smaller' than the figure Chlöe Swarbrick 'is bandying about'.
She told the Herald the figure was 'more like in the quantum
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1News
3 hours ago
- 1News
Chinese travellers get easier transit through NZ with visa change
Chinese nationals will no longer need to obtain transit visas when passing through New Zealand airports from November, the Government has announced. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced today that Chinese passport holders would instead be able to use the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority. A new air route from China to South America via Auckland has also been teased. Today's announcement appears to have been timed with PM Christopher Luxon's visit to China, alongside a visa waiver trial for certain Chinese travellers revealed last week. "Instead of spending $235 and waiting four days, individuals can pay as little as $17 and can be processed in 24 hours," Stanford said. ADVERTISEMENT "International connections are a crucial part of our plan to drive economic growth. We rely on robust and affordable air connectivity to bring people to our beautiful country, and to get our high-quality products out to the world. Erica Stanford (Source: 1News) "Alongside the announcement of a new route from China to South America via Auckland, we expect this will significantly boost the number of passengers that choose to transit through New Zealand." Tourism Minister Louise Upston said the policy change would help make Auckland Airport a hub for new airline connections. "Every additional passenger transiting New Zealand on their way to South America or back to China will help to lower the cost of a plane ticket, which makes it cheaper for other waves of tourists to come and see what our country has to offer," she said. "More capacity from airlines will make it easier to visit New Zealand and adds cargo capacity, driving economic growth and supporting the Government's goal to double the value of tourism exports by 2034." The Electronic Travel Authority will be valid for up to two years, allowing multiple entries without reapplication, according to the Government. ADVERTISEMENT Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, who has previously lobbied for the change, welcomed the announcement. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. (Source: 1News) "At the time, the minister declined my request on dubious grounds. But my continued advocacy has paid off, and I'm pleased to see that wiser heads in government have prevailed," he said. "The transit visa is a significant hurdle preventing the southern link between Southeast Asia and South America. Today's announcement will enable airlines like China Eastern to provide a service linking these two huge economies via Auckland." On Sunday, the Government announced New Zealand would trial visa waivers for Chinese visitors, with certain visas, arriving from Australia. The "visa waiver status" changes would apply to Chinese passport holders with a valid Australian visitor, work, student or family visa, and for stays of up to three months. Stanford said it would help boost the country's attractiveness as a tourism destination. "More than 240,000 Chinese visitor visas were granted in 2024, and we want those numbers to grow," she said on Sunday. "This will make it easier, cheaper and faster for them to cross the Tasman and visit our shores. "The trial will last for 12 months and will be supplemented by further improvements to our immigration processes, making it easier for people applying for a visa."
1News
7 hours ago
- 1News
NZ to launch visa waiver trial for Chinese visitors from Australia
New Zealand will trial visa waivers for Chinese visitors arriving from Australia starting this November, the Government has announced. The "visa waiver status" changes would only apply to Chinese passport holders with a valid Australian visitor, work, student or family visa, and for stays of up to three months. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said the Government was helping to boost the country's attractiveness as a destination for Chinese tourists. "More than 240,000 Chinese visitor visas were granted in 2024, and we want those numbers to grow," she said in a media release. "This will make it easier, cheaper and faster for them to cross the Tasman and visit our shores. "The trial will last for 12 months and will be supplemented by further improvements to our immigration processes, making it easier for people applying for a visa." ADVERTISEMENT Immigration New Zealand was establishing a dedicated contact centre number and support in China for Chinese "Approved Destination Status" travel agents. New Simplified Chinese web content would also be published on the agency's website. Those applying for a visitor visa would also no longer need to have their document translations certified, which Stanford said would remove additional translation fees for all applicants, not just those from China. These changes were in conjunction with the five-year multiple entry visitor visa and current average processing time of five working days for a Chinese visitor visa application, Stanford said. Upston said China was one of New Zealand's most important tourism markets and that more visitors meant a larger spend across the hospitality and tourism sectors. "In the year ended March 2025, visitors from China contributed $1.24 billion to New Zealand's economy, but there's still more work to do to grow these numbers and drive further economic growth throughout the country," she said. The Government's announcement follows calls for an easing of visa requirements for Chinese visitors, including from Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, and the granting of visa-free access for New Zealanders to visit China last year.
Scoop
8 hours ago
- Scoop
Collaboration Essential To Tackling Housing Challenges — LGNZ
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) says it is vital local and central government work together to address the country's housing issues, including incentivising councils to achieve housing growth. This follows the release of the Government's 'Going for Housing Growth' consultation document today, which outlines Pillar 1 of the Government's Going for Housing Growth programme. LGNZ Vice President Campbell Barry says that while many of the proposals are welcome, the time has come for the Government to establish a more positive relationship with councils on housing. 'It's clear that significant action is needed to address New Zealand's housing crisis, and some of what the Government is proposing is a positive step towards this,' says Campbell Barry. 'And while we understand and share the Government's concern around the issues that exist in the RMA space, it's not helpful or accurate to portray councils as the sole architects of New Zealand's housing crisis. 'Councils have faced ongoing uncertainty as planning rules have changed repeatedly; the RMA was replaced, then that system was repealed, there were promises and reversals on the Medium Density Residential Standards, multiple RMA amendments, and now another replacement is being rushed through. 'The goal posts for councils have been constantly shifted.' 'With the exception of Government giving itself power to intervene in plans, we're confident that councils will respond positively to these changes overall. But the Government also needs to give councils the chance to deliver before it imposes unnecessary constraints on local decision-making, such as the ability for Government to intervene directly to alter the structure of council plans.' Campbell Barry says that the best way to achieve housing outcomes is to stop disincentivising councils to allow for growth. 'It's important to acknowledge that many councils across the country have worked extremely hard to cater for growth, as they recognise the need for more housing and growth. 'If the Government wants to encourage the right behaviours in a sustainable way and build on its good work around development levies, it needs to follow through on introducing a share of GST on new builds to encourage councils to support growth — as well as other funding levers that enable housing growth. 'That would be a far better and more effective option than the Government threatening to veto council decisions. 'We look forward to engaging with the Government further to ensure local and central government work together, to address the housing issues that continue to plague our country'.
