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We have just received notification that the Government Select Committee have supported the intention of our petition and recommend that the Government review passport validity! We are one step closer to 10 year passports. Full reports are below. Thank you for your support, we couldn't have done it without you.
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NZ Ten Year Passports Campaign Spokesman, Kyle Lockwood, traveled to New Zealand to present his petition and written report to the Government Administration Select Committee in Wellington yesterday. Lockwood represented the views of over 15900 signatories of a petition to reinstate 10-year passports to New Zealand citizens. The petition hearing had extensive media coverage, most of New Zealand's media, including One News, 3 News, Radio New Zealand, Stuff (Fairfax media) and Newstalk ZB. "There are hundreds of personal petitions presented to parliament each year, and it is unusual for the media to take such an interest in one of these petitions, I believe this is reflective of a general sentiment amongst the New Zealand public that our Passport Validity is too short" said Lockwood today from his home in Melbourne. Mr Lockwood says frequent travellers and New Zealanders living overseas would benefit from not having to renew their passport as often. Mr Lockwood told the select committee yesterday New Zealand is out-of-step with most other OECD nations and switching back to 10-year passports would lessen the economic burden on Kiwi families and businesses, he said. "It's far more convenient for everybody, especially those living abroad, such as myself, to have a 10-year passport," Mr Lockwood told reporters. He said it's expensive for New Zealanders to transfer visas between passports and a 10-year validity period would eliminate the need for some people to travel with two passports stapled together. WATCH THE FULL ONE NEWS BULLETIN HERE - 2 mins. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/pressure-builds-return-10-year-passports-video-5830662 LISTEN TO THE NEWSTALK ZB INTERVIEW HERE http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/player/ondemand/865027521-kyle-lockwood--push-for-10-year-passports LISTEN TO RADIO NEW ZEALANDS REPORT HERE http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/235956/move-to-10-year-passport,-mps-told
One News also reported that New Zealanders pay more than most other countries for passports and have them for half as long, a new report shows. The Taxpayers' Union has released a briefing paper yesterday which compares passport prices of 17 countries and shows New Zealanders pay NZ$28 per year for the ability to travel overseas. New Zealand and Sweden are the only countries in the list which have 5-year passports, while the rest including Canada, Australia, Samoa and the UK have passports that expire after 10 years. The Government changed passports to include biometric technology, increased the price and in 2005 decreased the validity from 10 to five years. The paper's author Jordan McCluskey says the report shows New Zealand is out of step with the rest of the world. "Even if we had ten year passports, at current prices, New Zealanders would still be paying more than citizens in most countries with whom we traditionally compare ourselves," he says. Union executive director Jordan Williams wants Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne to reinstate ten year passports, saying the current system is about raising money rather than security. A petition to bring back 10 year NZ passports, was presented to the leader of the opposition David Cunliffe, and yesterday the petition was accepted by the NZ Government. This is the result of many months of lobbying and consultation with all political party leaders on this important matter. "This is a major victory, Labour have said if they are elected, they will reintroduce 10 year passports for adults. The Government must listen, soon our petition will be put before a select committee, and submissions from the NZ public will be called for, we strongly urge all NZ citizens, to submit to the select committee, in favour of 10 year passports" said Kyle Lockwood, spokesman for NZten.com, an organisation advocating for the return of 10 year NZ passports. "Mr Tremain, Internal Affairs Minister, has since January, constantly ignored our requests for public consultation on reinstating 10 year passports. He has in fact jetted off at the taxpayers expense, to watch a Hobbit premiere in LA, all the while consistently ignoring our requests for a return to 10 year passports, enjoyed by the citizens of most OECD nations including the UK, USA, Canada and Australia." Concluded Kyle Lockwood For more information please visit www.nzten.com David Cunliffes Media Release ENDS |
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