[Sitting date: 27 November 2014. Volume:702;Page:6. Text is subject to correction.]

4. Dr PARMJEET PARMAR (National) to the Minister of Transport : What progress has been made on increasing air services links between New Zealand and China?

Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Transport): I am delighted to inform the House that the number of flights between New Zealand and China is set to double following an amendment to the air services agreement arrangements between our two countries. The amended arrangement is a further reflection of the growing depth of the relationship between our two great countries, and the arrangement will allow airlines from both New Zealand and China to offer 42 services per week per country. This is up from a limit of 21 per week at the moment.

Dr Parmjeet Parmar : What forecasts has he seen on the number of visitors arriving from China by air travel?

Hon SIMON BRIDGES : So far this year just over 250,000 Chinese visitors have arrived in New Zealand by air travel. With increased air services, forecasts indicate that half a million Chinese people will visit New Zealand by air each year by 2020. Indeed, some commentators say those figures are conservative. Through the doubling of the number of flights between our countries we are taking steps to further expand tourism, trade, and personal ties between our two countries.

ENDS

© Scoop Media