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

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