Pursuant to section 69(2)(a) of the Immigration Act 2009, I waive the requirement to hold a visa permitting travel to New Zealand for individuals to who:

1. a waiver of the requirement for a visa to travel to, or travel to and transit in, New Zealand applies on the condition they hold an Electronic Travel Authority, and
2. they do not hold an Electronic Travel Authority.

This special direction expires on 1 December 2019, unless cancelled earlier.

Dated this 30th day of September 2019.

Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY, Minister of Immigration.

Explanatory Note

This note is not part of the special direction but is intended to indicate the general effect of the special direction.

As from 1 October 2019, the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010 impose a condition on those individuals to whom a waiver of the requirement to hold a visa permitting travel to New Zealand applies. The condition is the requirement to hold an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) before travelling to New Zealand.

If there are circumstances in which ETA eligible travellers are unable to comply with the requirement to hold an ETA during the initial period of the requirement coming into force, the special direction will allow those persons to travel to New Zealand for the period in which the special direction is in force. The special direction does not allow persons to enter or stay in New Zealand, and they will be required to apply for entry permission and a visa on arrival in the usual way.