New Zealand and Australia are to explore moves toward more “seamless travel” between the two nations to enhance closer trade, business and tourism links.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese met in Wellington Wednesday for bilateral talks, and have outlined a new roadmap for the relationship over the next decade. They agreed to cooperate to improve trade and people-to-people links, and to work together to combat climate change.
They agreed the “revitalization of a joint Australia-New Zealand working group to scope initiatives to move closer toward seamless travel across the Tasman,” according to a joint statement. The group is required to report back by the end of June 2024.
Officials will look at how to make the border experience seamless, allowing citizens moving in either direction to use self-service SmartGate kiosks in a more timely way, Albanese told reporters. The nations are not looking at a common passport, he said.
