TIA’s lobbying has resulted in an extension of visitor visas which will come as a great relief to those international visitors who remain in Aotearoa.

Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi has announced that 12,500 visitor visa holders will get an automatic two-month extension. During that time they will be able to apply for a further six month extension to their visa. This has required the waiving of an existing rule that visitors can only spend nine months in any 18 month period in New Zealand.

TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts is grateful that Minister Faafoi has responded positively. “Many of these visas were to expire on 25 February, and our overseas guests faced suddenly becoming overstayers. The Minister was receptive to our request for extensions and has been in regular communication over the past week as the details have been finalised.

"These international visitors are extremely grateful to be in New Zealand at this time, and between them they are contributing well over $1m a day to our economy. Clearly, having come here as visitors they cannot stay forever, but this extension is the right thing to do in the current circumstances."