UK drops plans to scuttle NZ ancestry visa
An NZPA report says fears that New Zealanders will lose their right to British ancestry visas have been allayed, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today.
Miss Clark said she welcomed the announcement by the British Home Office that New Zealanders with grandparents born in the United Kingdom will continue to be able to live and work in Britain for up to five years on an ancestry visa.
This follows recent news that the British government had dropped consideration of stripping New Zealanders of visa free access to the United Kingdom for up to six months.
“The two decisions mean that New Zealanders will continue to enjoy good access to Britain,” Miss Clark said.
“They follow extensive consultations between British and New Zealand officials. I also raised the matter personally with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.”
The British government has been reviewing its immigration policy and abolishing the ancestry visa was one of the options.
Miss Clark said for generations New Zealanders had been able to use their ancestral links to Britain and the decision would mean the traditional “OE” (overseas experience) could continue.
“It reflects the huge goodwill towards New Zealand in Britain,” Miss Clark said.
A Report by The Mole from NZPA
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025