Visas for New Zealanders?

August 18, 2026

Alan Gamlen and Peter McDonald provided some useful statistics and reminded us that New Zealanders require no visa to enter Australia. According to the table provided, it is part of the immigration program where there is “no control”. The number of New Zealanders moving to Australia was about 41,000 people in 2025, a 12-year high after averaging about 37,000 annually between 2005 and 2019.

Australians, of course, can enter New Zealand without a visa under the Trans-Tasman Agreement. However, if we are to take control of our own immigration program, then we need to either cap the number of annual entries to Australia from New Zealand or scrap the Agreement. That would require New Zealanders getting a visa before coming and be part of the official immigration program.

The current system is easily rorted. South Pacific Islanders tend to have ready access to New Zealand and from there, after a certain time, they can enter Australia freely. I have no problem with them or New Zealanders as immigrants, but why do they get special status? Why not Canadians for instance, if maintaining contact with ex-British colonies is the aim? The bottom line, however, is numbers and we need more control.