Election 2026: National pushes passport-free transtasman travel as policy

The National Party is announcing an election policy of seamless transtasman travel for New Zealanders and Australians, which wouldn’t require a passport.Leader Christopher Luxon and tourism spokeswoman Louise Upston made the announcement during a visit to Queenstown today at Coronet Peak.“The 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand from 21 October to 19 November that year,” Upston said.“National will work to introduce a trial prior to the T20. This would look like a fully digital transtasman travel experience, where eligible travellers can rely on a smartphone, digital credentials and biometric technology through more of the airport journey.“This would mean no paper passport required at the gate and faster movement through airports, while maintaining the security and integrity of New Zealand’s border and preserving the ability of border agencies to intervene where risk is identified.”Eligible travellers would be Australian and New Zealand passport holders.They would:Provide their passport and travel details digitally before departure, building on information already provided to airlines and through the New Zealand Traveller Declaration.Complete their New Zealand Traveller Declaration before flying, allowing immigration, customs and biosecurity information to be assessed earlier.Have their eligibility and identity checked digitally, with travellers requiring further examination removed from the streamlined pathway.Use a dedicated transtasman arrival pathway at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown airports, which are supported by existing eGate and facial-recognition technology.Continue to meet all New Zealand biosecurity and customs requirements, including baggage inspection where required. Seamless immigration processing does not mean bypassing biosecurity. Travellers would still have to make the same declarations and could still have baggage inspected or be referred to an officer.New Zealand recorded 1.52 million visitor arrivals from Australia in 2025. Australian visitors spent $4.2 billion in New Zealand in the year ended March 2026, with holiday visitors spending an average of $4397 per trip.Derek Cheng is a senior journalist who started at the Herald in 2004. He has worked several stints in the press gallery team and is a former deputy political editor.