Minister of Immigration
Hon Tuariki Delamere

• POLICIES FOR PROGRESS INDEX
• PM WELCOMES PROGRESS ON IMMIGRATION
• POINTS FOR WORK EXPERIENCE MORE REALISTIC
• ENTREPRENEURS ENCOURAGED
• MAKING NEW ZEALAND A MORE ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION
• LANGUAGE TRAINING
• MORE QUALIFICATIONS TO BE ACCEPTED
• STUDENT POLICY
• TOURISM AND TRADE
• BUSINESS INVESTORS

The Minister of Immigration, Hon Tuariki Delamere, said today that the new posts and visa waivers signal a move by Government to develop stronger links with potential trading partners, tourism and migrant markets.

New immigration offices will open in Shanghai and Moscow in July next year with plans to open a further office in Pretoria in July 2000.

"These offices will serve General Skills category and business migrants, but they will also play a significant role in developing trade and tourism links with New Zealand," Mr Delamere said.

Nationals from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay will be able to travel to New Zealand without a visa. The visa waiver from Argentina will take effect on 30 October 1998. The remainder of the visa waivers will take effect from 1 January 1999.

The Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Immigration, Hon Murray McCully, welcomes the new posts and the visa waivers.

"The tourism and trade potential from South America is high. New Zealand already has significant established trade links with Latin America. Relaxation of visa requirements for these countries not only increases the potential for increased trade, it unlocks the potential for increased tourism".

"The Government has identified South America as a target market for tourism this year. Last year we had approximately 12,000 visitors from South America. There is an enormous scope for rapid growth which we will look to initiate with a tourism mission later this year.

Mr McCully said the opening of new immigration service posts in Shanghai, Moscow and Pretoria was also a move in the right direction toward boosting New Zealand's trade and tourism potential with these countries.

"As a trading nation it makes good sense to enhance whatever opportunities exist to further develop our trade, tourism and immigration links with other nations, particularly those where significant potential exists to benefit New Zealand. I fully support these initiatives," Mr McCully said.