NZ urges free movement for Aussies, Kiwis for cross Tasman travel
The travel industry is firmly behind moves to scrap the need for passports for Australians and New Zealanders crossing the Tasman Sea.
New Zealand Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne, whose position covers passport policy, wrote in a blog urging Australian PM Tony Abbott to look at allowing free movement for citizens of the two countries.
"A practical starting point would be to allow our respective citizens free movement across our borders, without the need for a passport, as is increasingly the case in Europe," Dunne wrote.
Over one million Kiwis and Aussies respectively cross the Tasman in each direction and are both key source markets for tourism to the neighbouring countries.
More than one million New Zealanders travelled to Australia in the last 12 months to March, while 1.2 million Australian travelled in the opposite direction during the same period.
"We know that reducing barriers to travel would stimulate demand and encourage more Australians to view New Zealand as a domestic holiday destination which they may visit multiple times," said Tourism Industry Association NZ chief executive Chris Roberts.
"Stepping off a trans-Tasman flight should feel like stepping off a domestic one. We are out of step with other nations which consider themselves close friends," Roberts added.
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