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Australia, NZ reach new border agreement
WELLINGTON – A new trans-Tasman border agreement is set to increase the rewards for tourism industries in New Zealand and Australia.
It is also likely to reduce the cost of flying between New Zealand and Australia.
The plan to cut red tape and create a common border will allow trans-Tasman travellers to avoid customs and immigration.
Flight prices could fall by up to 30 per cent, according to some estimates.
The agreement, announced following a meeting between Australian PM Kevin Rudd and his NZ counterpart John Key today, will see streamlined processes for border processing of trans-Tasman passengers, making Australian travellers’ experience of arriving in New Zealand faster and easier.
New Zealand travellers arriving in Australia can also expect a faster transition through immigration and customs.
“New Zealand is already the most popular destination for Australian travellers, however there is still much potential,†says Tourism New Zealand CEO, George Hickton.
“The new, quicker border procedures will make it easier and more appealing for Australians to come back more than once, to visit different regions and have different experiences.â€
The agreement follows through on a commitment made in March this year by the governments of Australia and New Zealand to ensure that people and goods can move more easily between the two countries.
It will result in improvements in the speed of screening and processing of low-risk passengers.
SmartGate technology, which allows self-processing for ePassport holders, will also be introduced for arrivals at Auckland airport by the end of 2009, with Wellington and Christchurch airports following next year.
Ian Jarrett
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