By 
Please find attached a copy of a letter I have sent regarding the 5 year life of passports in New Zealand. I would be delighted to know if others share my concerns.
The Hon Chris Tremain MP
Minister of Internal Affairs
Parliament Buildings
Private Bag
Wellington 5th June 2012
Dear Minister
The validity life of a New Zealand Passport
I write, on behalf of a group of New Zealand international frequent travellers to respectfully ask that you urgently encourage this National Government to reinstate the ten-year life, of a New Zealand Passport for the following reasons.
- Renewing a passport every four and a half years is time wasting, expensive and an unnecessary irritation.
- Revenues from five yearly passports doubles that collected under a ten-year passport, would not those funds be better spent in the “real” economy?
- New Zealanders are at a competitive disadvantage to their major trading partners in terms of valid passports for entry into foreign countries.
- The five-year New Zealand Passport can only assist in the battle of counterfeit or fraudulently altered passports if the targets are New Zealanders. That seems a ludicrous supposition.
- New Zealand’s borders are no more secure with a five-year biometric passport than they would be with a ten-year biometric passport.
- This Government states it is committed to eradicating frivolous bureaucracy. This would be an opportunity to practice what it preaches.
- Why have legislation in place that actively discourages New Zealanders from renewing their “country of birth” passport particularly those with dual citizenship and those who live abroad?
It just does not make sense that citizens of Argentina, Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain, South Korea, South Africa, United Kingdom and USA, many of whom are amongst our most important trading partners, can come and go from New Zealand’s borders on ten year passports while we can not. Furthermore many of those countries have more sophisticated border protection technology than New Zealand.
The New Zealanders who wish to register their support for this initiative are listed below. All are receiving a copy of this email / letter.
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Minister, please consider this letter alongside our earlier request under the Official Information Act and may I urge you to start the process necessary to make these legislative changes, as quickly as possible.
We all look forward to your positive response to this compelling request for a ten-year New Zealand passport to be reinstated at your earliest convenience.
We appreciate it is of minimal significance in the wider scheme of things but it is an irritant with disproportionate consequences for many of us.
Yours sincerely.
John L Stace
Speedy response from Minister received
John,
Thanks for your advocacy on the issue of extended passports. This is the 5th or 6th email I have received from you on this issue so you can rest assured I am well aware of your position.
Extending the passport to a ten year period is not a policy of the National Government nor my Ministry at this point in time. We will however be providing on-line access to quickly renew passports and at a discount to traditional means of renewal. This new service is planned to be available within the next six months. This will allow New Zealand to keep our passport security at the leading edge of international developments.
Further correspondence with you on this particular issue will be through my Ministry.
Kind regards,
Chris Tremain
Hon Chris Tremain | MP for Napier | Minister of Internal Affairs | Minster of Civil Defence | Associate Minister of Tourism
14:24, 06.06.2012
Completely agree with your points. The extra administration cost of updating 5 yearly is enough of a reason alone. I wouldn’t mind paying more for a ten year passport – always seems to be when you are needing to travel that you need a new passport. Would be interested to see some statistics on travel habits of Kiwis, and their frequency of international travel.
21:16, 06.06.2012
“Revenues from five yearly passports doubles that collected under a ten-year passport” – It’s worse than that; the cost of obtaining a passport increased around 400%.
The original fee was $71 with a validity period of 10 years, while the new fee is $150 with a validity of 5 years.
Don’t forget that a passport is really only valid for approximately 4.5 years now, as most countries require at least six months of remaining validity on a passport before entry is permitted.
11:09, 08.06.2012
I agree, I got my new passport this year and applied for a B-1 visa for business travel to the USA its valid for 10years yet my passport will expire within 5years.
13:48, 08.06.2012
- entirely agree;
my NZ passport needs renewing as it’s 6 months away from expiry. My UK passport is good for another 5 years.
If National are so keen on streamlining the public service, here’s a golden opportunity – or is it just teachers and diplomats they want to save money on?
21:06, 08.06.2012
another reason not to turn residency into citizenship – shame
19:54, 03.08.2012
I was until recently a NZ citizen living in Australia (32 years). I have become an Australian Citizen, & have dual citizenship, but will not renew my NZ passpoert anytime soon if it is now restricted to 5 years (actually 4.5 years for some countries I visit). My biometric 10 year Australian passport will serve me well going forward. I’m not sure NZ actually relate to other countries or standard basic policies regarding simple matters like passports…but I guess as NZ has always done… it will be their uneducated ways or the highway. Good luck to all…I’m sure more featherbrained ideas will be actioned by your government soon. Enjoy.
07:19, 16.10.2012
I am an NZ citizen living in the UK. My NZ passport has just expired and although I would like to renew it, I am not going to. Instead I am now applying for my first UK passport, which costs less, as well as lasting for 10 years. I imagine many people who can will do the same as me.
17:12, 24.10.2012
HI to all.
I agree not because of the statements made which substantiate this forum, or what ever you want to call it. But because when this law first came out, I knew like most other people that it would be a pain for every person to fill out applications and the price is just stupid. Who ever made this policy simply should be in another occupation. Why do politicians always seem to make everyone’s life worse with the decisions they make? (And don’t get me started on laws in having to pay for a new drivers license when you already have one).
We simply have no control over what decisions are made in the political realms, and sure sure, we vote (and like that justifies anything) and we rely and lay back thinking “yep they know what they’re doing” , but we know better. I think out of all the complaining we can do, we should all just shut up, because we as a whole enable such people in key positions to make stupid mistakes that control and manipulate our lives in constrictive annoying ways. I am first in line if anyone knows a Government (or should I say people in a government) that run’s a social machine in a trust worthy and considerate manner of its people.
The government is employed for the people,and by the people. Therefore the people should really be making the rules. And any major decisions needing to be made should voted by the people.
The utterances made by Chris Tremain with his response to John who is clearly right in his opinion, shows the condescending tones in his response (well that is what I process) and if I am right … which of course I am …. then this is not the type of attitude in response we should get from people that are apparently supposed to set a president for the rest of society by being in prestigious positions. And is it not reasonable to think that “five” letters (complaints) surrounding this topic, is warranted a reasonable break down for the actual stupidity of reasons as to why we have to renew passports every 4 and a half (so called 5 years) years ?????? Clearly its a money maker which does not really help people so much, if at all. (apart from provide a passport?)
Just bring back 10 year passports, or better yet make the 15 or 20. Hell it can not be rocket science.
Wake Up!!!!! & Revolt New Zealand People
18:14, 21.12.2012
Dear Hon Minister Tremain,
I fully agree with John L Stace’s position. It is but an arrogant or out of touch government that refuses to listen to the people that put you in power.
I am an Australian citizen too, and so far have restrained myself from taking the Australian passport, as I am proud to say that I am a Kiwi.
However the arrogant tone of your response to John, has added weight to the decision to give up travelling on an NZ passport.
I wish you a long and happy life on the Opposition benches.
Regards,
GC
15:26, 31.01.2013
COMPLETELY AGREE!! It’s totally ridiculous only having a passport valid for 5 years. I’d like to know which “140 countries” have 5 year passports as the government website states – certainly not the US, UK or Australia which have to be the most frequently travelled countries by most New Zealanders? Even China has a 10 year passport (and of course the government panders to the Chinese, but even this is not the reason for it). The government passport website claims that the revenue they gather from the frequent issue of NZ passports can only be used for passport purposes, but I find this hard to believe. They say that the 5 yearly issue of passports improves our security – but if even the most paranoid nation on earth (ie the US) has 10 yearly passports, then what possible reason could be warrented for us to have 5 yearly? All in all, if there was some movement to really pressure the government to make a change I am on board 100%!
22:02, 16.03.2013
Well said Mr Stace.
I cannot believe our government has made this unnecessary change, but I guess shouldn’t be surprised with yet another ridiculous decision made by government with little consultation or care given to citizens.
Some great comments made here regarding this matter.
As mentioned, the U.S and the U.K have greater security threats to their countries than little old N.Z – and they still have 10yr passports.
This all seemed to be sneakily pushed through under the radar many years ago (I was overseas at the time and unaware of this change taking place). We should have a binding referendum on this matter.
23:48, 09.04.2013
I support your call and honestly I am very embarrassed as a Kiwi that those in Immigration New Zealand can’t see reason and have their heads buried like ostriches.
It is becoming obvious among us who live abroad, that ministers just want to take from those living abroad and not to support them for their efforts!.
Honestly I am starting to get very annoyed by New Zealand’s ignorant 5-year passport rule and considering seriously on giving up my nationality birthright.
As a Kiwi by birth, who is based in Hong Kong and needs to have a China visa to run my business, I can only at best get 4 years use out of my passport!
This is as China Visa’s are issued ONLY in a period of years – so 3 years, then 1 year is all I can get for my China visa (making the 5th year of my passport unusable).
Really ministers in New Zealand are putting those who help New Zealand exports and live overseas in a very difficult situation.
Every 4 years, I loose my travel documents for 2 to 3 months and the security of being able to travel if needed!
I beg to ask why do those Kiwi’s have to suffer this when them being overseas, helps New Zealand in terms of exports and thus directly financially!).
Please note that unlike others who live in commonwealth countries, it is NOT possible for me as a New Zealander to get a HKSAR passport, unless I 100% renounce my NZ citizenship!!!
Yes, Chinese going to New Zealand are able to get a passport after 4 years living there, but New Zealand nationals who live in Hong Kong or China at best can only get residency rights.
Residency rights which are automatically revoked if a person doesn’t return to Hong Kong, once per year for the rest of their life after leaving Hong Kong – even if one has lived here like I have for over 20 years!).
NB: only those with Chinese blood / ethnic background and born in Hong Kong can hold dual passports (so no Kiwi can and no one who doesn’t have Chinese ethnicity as well as being a Chinese National).
Perhaps New Zealand should be looking at treating Chinese Nationals and Hong Kong Nationals by the same rules as New Zealanders are treated to here i.e. only residency rights which expire if the Chinese or HK National doesn’t return to New Zealand every 12 months???
Also perhaps New Zealand should be granting 10 year passports, to ONLY New Zealand Nationals who were born in New Zealand! (Hong Kong allows dual passports / citizenship for those Chinese born in Hong Kong ONLY).
So what are a Kiwi’s options while living abroad in Hong Kong or China and supporting NZ exports:-
a) Get a new passport every 4 years (and risk the safe situation of having no travel document for up to 3 months every 4 years – that’s 6.25% of my life spent without a travel document!)
b) To renounce my NZ citizenship and say goodbye to my roots!
Is the minister is unable to understand these issues or sincerely solve these issues?
Annoyed NZ National!
PS: If the minister chooses to remain deaf to us all, really every New Zealander living abroad, I feel must vote such as to ensure that the party the minister responsible represents, is voted out in the coming election (and that they clearly understand that this is why the New Zealanders living abroad voted as such!).