Labour immigration spokesperson Lianne Dalziel said she supported changes to the Returning Resident Visas (RRVs) announced today.

Lianne Dalziel said she had recently taken a case to the Immigration Minister on behalf of a resident who had been caught out by the narrow rules which have governed non-citizen residents who travelled overseas.

"This change will be particularly welcomed by business and professional residents who not lived here long enough to apply for citizenship but who still need to travel," Lianne Dalziel said.

"However, I am concerned that there is a long lead time before these changes come into effect which seems unnecessary."

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