Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

NZ Passports Still Too Expensive

Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader

31 October 2012

NZ Passports Still Too Expensive

New Zealand First is satisfied its policy to reduce the cost of passports is set to be introduced but believes the price reductions announced today are transparently pathetic.

Rt Hon Winston Peters in April called for the Government to stop ripping off Kiwi travellers by charging exorbitant fees of up to $153.30 for a passport which remains valid for just five years.

“The Government was making huge profits from the issuing of New Zealand e-passports which were essentially twice as expensive as UK and Irish passports.”

“They should be reducing the price of passports by half – not by up to a measly $28 – to match what is going on overseas.”

Mr Peters says New Zealand First has led the call for a cut in passport fees and any reduction is welcome.

“But there is no justification in making online passport applications cheaper. That seriously disadvantages those without internet access.

“We believe the Government should standardise the price of all adult passports – no matter how they are applied for.

“This country is positioned at the bottom of the world and a passport is an essential document for most New Zealanders.

“That’s one reason why the issuing of passports shouldn’t be a money-making scheme for the Government,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.