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1News
7 hours ago
- Business
- 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."
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Whangārei teen's Melbourne health trip secured after Jetstar setback
Carrie is now returning to Melbourne at the end of the month for a check-up with the team. The trip was almost derailed by Jetstar's inability to offer wheelchair assistance on the family's booked flight, which mum Laura Kunicich described as 'ridiculous'. The discount airline apologised for being unable to accommodate the request on this occasion but said its wheelchair limit - of two passengers needing wheelchair assistance - had been reached on the flight. It offered to find the family an alternative flight but Kunicich opted to cancel the booking and take a full refund instead. Kunicich said the hardest thing was she was unable to know the limit had been reached before she booked the flight. She was unable to change the date because she travels on a UK passport and has to apply for Electronic Travel Authority or an eVisitor Visa in advance of the Australian visit. With funds being tight, Kunicich thought she would have to wait for a refund from Jetstar before booking a new flight. However, Air New Zealand contacted her following the Northern Advocate 's coverage, offering a good deal on a flight with wheelchair assistance. It held the booking open until Kunicich was able to pay, which she said was a great relief. Kunicich is also grateful to the community who helped fund the trip through a Givealittle page and direct donations, including the Lions Club of Whangārei which offered $1000 this year and $1000 next year if Carrie needs to return again. However, Kunicich said she is still waiting for her Jetstar refund, which was approved last Wednesday but may take up to 15 days to be credited.
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Jetstar wheelchair limit may ground Whangārei teen's crucial Melbourne trip
The trip was funded with donations from the Whangārei community, including an anonymous donor who funded the flights, said her mum Laura Kunicich. After a successful trip, Carrie now needs to return at the end of May for a check-up. The Whangārei community has again given donations to help fund the trip, including the ongoing support of the Lions Club of Whangārei. Kunicich, a widow, was unable to pay for the trip herself from her part-time job with an accounting firm. But she struck problems on Friday after booking the flight home from Melbourne for May 30 with discount carrier Jetstar. Kunicich said Jetstar's website said it could provide wheelchair assistance but when she rang to finalise this, it was unable to give the help Carrie needs: a loan wheelchair to use at the airport after she checks in her motorised wheelchair. Kunicich said her only option was a refund from the airline, which takes up to seven days. As of this morning, she still had not received the refund. This puts her in a difficult position as she needs the refund before she can book a flight with a different carrier – and she is holding her breath amid the tension of whether flights and assistance will be available. Kunicich was able to book flights and wheelchair assistance from Auckland to Melbourne on May 26 without issue with a different airline. However, because Kunicich travels on a UK passport, she has to apply for Electronic Travel Authority or an eVisitor Visa in advance, and does not have flexibility with dates of travel to and from Australia. She thought the approach by Jetstar was 'ridiculous'. Jetstar apologised for being unable to accommodate the request on this occasion but said its wheelchair limit had been reached on the flight. In a statement, the airline said its team worked hard to find the family an alternative flight but Kunicich opted to cancel the booking and take a full refund instead. Jetstar has established a dedicated Contact Centre team to assist customers with specific assistance requests and regularly reviews the support provided to these customers, it said. 'The community is just awesome' While the Jetstar experience has put the trip on tenterhooks, Kunicich is still so grateful to the Whangārei community for the support and help with funding. 'The community is just awesome ... It's a nice warm feeling to know that people care.' One supporter is the Lions Club of Whangārei, which gave $1000 this year and confirmed another $1000 next year if Carrie needs to return to Melbourne for another check-up then. Secretary Brian Boys said the club runs a charity golf tournament in March each year, and has already donated $10,000 to St John and $10,000 to North Haven Hospice from this year's event. Kunicich said she and Carrie hope to continue the relationship with Lions by helping out with its Citrus for the South project, with fruit collected and washed on August 10. Other donations including $300 worth of gift vouchers from Hikurangi farm store Bates and Keen Family Farm, which will be raffled off to raise funds for the trip. Kunicich believed people were willing to get behind Carrie because of her cool attitude, which saw her being recognised for academically excelling in 12 different subjects last term. The first appointments with Melbourne specialists, led by Professor Martin Delatycki of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, were a great success as they recommended Carrie take baclofen, a medicine which helps reduce muscle spasms. The drug has been a game-changer, reducing Carrie's muscle spasms and involuntary limb movements, allowing her to sleep and concentrate better.
