34 (2025). Hon Phil Twyford to the Minister of Immigration

34 (2025). Hon Phil Twyford to the Minister of Immigration: What advice, if any, has the minister received on the potential outcomes related to the changes to the visitor visa announced on January 27th 2025?

Hon Erica Stanford: Feedback on the changes has been overwhelmingly positive and it is anticipated that it will stimulate an increase in tourist numbers. From overseas examples, we know it will enable access to a market of visitors we previously did not have access to. However, it is not possible to accurately predict how high the increase in tourist numbers will be, given the uniqueness of New Zealand’s appeal and the unknown work arrangements of travellers that that appeal attracts. Visitors must still come to New Zealand for a lawful visitor purpose; carrying out remote work cannot be the primary purpose of their visit. The work cannot be for a New Zealand employer, it cannot require the visitor to be physically present at a place of work in New Zealand and they cannot obtain gain or reward from New Zealand businesses or persons in New Zealand for having undertaken the work.