According to the Global Times, just before New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visits China, the New Zealand government has adjusted its visa regulations for Chinese tourists, allowing those with valid Australian visas to enter the country without a visa.
As reported by New Zealand's 1 News on June 15, the government announced that starting in November, a visa waiver policy will be trialed for Chinese tourists arriving in New Zealand from Australia. This new adjustment applies to Chinese citizens holding valid Australian tourist, work, student, or family visas, with a maximum stay in New Zealand of three months.
Explaining the visa changes, New Zealand's Immigration Minister, Erica Stanford, stated that the government aims to enhance New Zealand's appeal as a tourist destination. In a press release, she noted, "In 2024, we issued over 240,000 visitor visas to Chinese tourists, and we hope this number continues to grow."
Stanford further mentioned that the new regulations will make it easier, cheaper, and more convenient for eligible Chinese tourists to cross the Tasman Sea and visit New Zealand. "The trial period will last for 12 months, during which we will further improve procedures to make it easier for people to apply for visas," she added.
Ni, a student at the University of Auckland, shared in an interview that New Zealand has historically maintained a relatively lenient visa approval process to attract Chinese tourists, often granting five-year multiple-entry visas. However, she noted some communication issues in the visa application process, such as difficulty in directly contacting visa officers with questions.
The adjustments to visa applications for Chinese tourists also include the establishment of dedicated tourism service contact points in China, a weekday phone hotline for inquiries, the addition of simplified Chinese web content, and improved visa processing efficiency.
New media reports indicate that over the past year, tourism advocates, including Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, have been pushing for a trial visa waiver policy or the relaxation of current restrictions on Chinese tourists. The Post of New Zealand mentioned that China has allowed New Zealand citizens to enter without a visa, a policy that will last until the end of this year. However, Minister Stanford stated that the government will not open a visa waiver for Chinese tourists at this time, noting, "Most countries in the world are not on our visa waiver list... This is a first step and a pragmatic one, with very low risk."
While a complete visa waiver for China is not currently on the agenda, the New Zealand tourism industry acknowledges the importance of Chinese tourists and has repeatedly urged the government to implement corresponding measures to attract them. According to Stanford, the number of visitors to New Zealand has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, "especially our Chinese market, which has not recovered to the desired level." The New Zealand Post reported that officials estimate the number of Chinese tourists traveling to New Zealand via Australia could increase by 10% to 20% following the new regulations, aiding further recovery of Chinese tourist numbers.
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