Category: Public Media

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Opposition parties react to Auckland housing U-turn

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour deputy leader and spokesperson for Auckland Carmel Sepuloni. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Labour says the Housing Minister has been undermined by his leader and colleagues following the announcement to lower the maximum number of houses in Auckland from 2 million to at least 1.6 million.

Meanwhile, ACT leader David Seymour says “we’re not there yet” and wants to see the location of the 1.6 million homes before supporting it.

Chris Bishop announced the change to Auckland leaders at the International Convention Centre on Thursday.

Deputy leader and spokesperson for Auckland Carmel Sepuloni said it’s a humiliating backdown for Bishop and there’s been a relationship breakdown between government ministers.

Sepuloni said there’d been “self-interest” from some MPs, including Epsom’s David Seymour and Howick’s Simeon Brown, and that they were “concerned with their own leafy suburbs” and the feedback they’d got from their constituents.

“This is a humiliating backdown for Chris Bishop, who has spent months talking up housing reform only to be forced into swallowing a dead rat when Christopher Luxon threw his plan under the bus,” Sepuloni said.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop at the announcement. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

She said Bishop had been ambitious for Auckland, “he knows how important housing is”, and called it a huge blow for Auckland families looking for affordable homes.

She’s concerned about the uncertainty the change brings, given council entered into agreements with government in good faith and “this really turns all of that on its head”.

The Greens were similarly frustrated, with co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick saying she’d call it embarrassing if it wasn’t “harmful”.

“We’ve been having this debate for longer than I have been involved in politics. Aucklanders and New Zealanders deserve far better.”

She said cities weren’t museums, and they needed to house people.

Swarbrick said she found it “profoundly ironic” that the government was capitulating to those who own property at the expense of everybody else at a time where the Infrastructure Commission called for “clear-eyed, evidence-based criteria” for development in New Zealand.

Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

She asked if Bishop was willing to show his spine and do the things he said he believed in.

Neither Labour nor the Greens would rule out making further changes or campaigning to make further changes to the plan.

Nor did the ACT leader give his full endorsement for the change, with Seymour saying it was good progress the government was making changes, “but we need to see what 1.6 million looks like before we vote for it”.

He said when parliament voted for 2 million homes, “we hadn’t seen the maps from the council”.

“They had kept them hidden and basically released them the next day. This time, we need to see what 1.6 million looks like before we vote for it.”

Asked about Auckland mayor Wayne Brown’s comments that the change was an overreach from central government, and he didn’t want to seek Cabinet’s approval on another plan, Seymour suggested the mayor “be a bit of a democrat” and help inform the public of what 1.6 million looks like.

ACT’s David Seymour. RNZ / Mark Papalii

“I don’t think he has the right to withhold information that’s important to many Aucklanders.”

Seymour said people did want housing intensification but they wanted to see it being consistent and looking sensible, saying it would be “crazy” to have a field of single family homes with a 150 metre tower in the middle.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters was pleased the change was happening, saying a lower number of homes was “doing better” and the change was more “attuned to the actual realities of future growth” rather than “wild speculation”.

“You’ve got to compromise, in my view. I’ve talked to a lot of planners there. We could have done better, and we still can.”

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Sky to lift prices of Sky Sport and Sky Sport Now by about 10 percent

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sky TV is increasing the price of its Sky Sport and Sky Sport Now packages. AFP/SUPPLIED

Sky TV is increasing the price of its Sky Sport and Sky Sport Now packages again.

The Sky Sport price will lift from $47 to $52 a month, a roughly 10 percent increase.

Last March, Sky put up its price by 12 percent, from $42 to $47.

In February 2024, it rose from $37.99 to $42.

Sky said Sky Sport Now customers’ monthly pass would increase from $54.99 to $59.99, while the premium monthly price increased from $59.99 to $64.99.

“The cost of Sky Sport Now day pass and annual pass is not changing. All existing discounts and deals will stay in place until they expire,” it said in a statement.

“We work hard to keep providing exceptional value for fans, and we’re proud that Sky Sport offers an extraordinary amount of world class sport for New Zealanders. While we understand every household has to choose what to spend their money on, we believe it’s great Kiwi fans are able to access a breadth and depth of live international and local sport (that is genuinely rare in global markets) in a single subscription.”

It said it was able to offer a range of sporting events because of its long-term commitment to securing rights.

“We’re also improving the viewing experience this year, with a range of sporting events now being broadcast in 4K, and more to follow.”

Forsyth Barr New Zealand equities analyst Benjamin Crozier said Sky had been able to maintain customer numbers in recent times despite its price increases.

“It’s always the question, how much do you push the price… But you look at what Sky’s done, it’s renewed the rugby, it’s won back the cricket… it’s got a broader suite of sports there.”

He said there was less competition for Sky in sport than in other parts of the business.

“As with any good business, you’ve got to test the price elasticity of your customers. In the last couple of years they’ve put up prices and in terms of the numbers they report in terms of sport subscribers, they’ve held steady.

“There’s always ups and downs depending on what sports events are on around the word but it has been working for them and they’ve been able to offset some of the declines in the legacy parts of their business.”

He said the arrival of HBO Max would be an area to watch.

“There’s already so many competitors in that space, is one more going to make that much difference? A big area to watch over the next six months is when Neon loses HBO, do people start dropping their subscriptions to Neon? Sky will want to keep people subscribed with other content.”

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Person dies after being pulled from water at Dunedin beach

Source: Radio New Zealand

The person was pulled from the water at St Clair beach but could not be revived. File picture. RNZ / Tim Brown

A person has died after being pulled out of the water at St Clair Beach in Dunedin.

Police say they were called to the beach at the south of the city just before midday on Thursday.

The person was unresponsive after being pulled from the water and could not be revived despite medical treatment.

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‘We’re not shagging spiders’: Minister on second Auckland harbour crossing

Source: Radio New Zealand

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has told Auckland leaders the government’s not “shagging spiders” as it progresses work on a second Auckland harbour crossing.

Public discourse about another Waitematā Harbour crossing was reignited this week after the Infrastructure Commission suggested a toll as high as $9 per trip to help pay for it.

Bishop went on a self-described “rant” during a question-and-answer session at the International Convention Centre after being asked when the harbour crossing would be tolled.

“The mayor’s about to self-combust down the front here,” Bishop joked in response.

Bishop said a decision on the crossing – be it a bridge or a tunnel – would be made later this year “with Auckland” and “in conjunction with the opposition”.

He added it would “almost certainly be tolled”.

“It’ll be the biggest project ever built in New Zealand, no matter what shape or form it is – it’s [an] extremely large amount of money, and I’ve said publicly that it will almost certainly be tolled.

“The idea that you ask people to pay to use a new bridge or tunnel is [not] unreasonable. It’s how the original one was paid for.”

Bishop was then asked if people would have to pay to use the old crossing.

Bishop said there were several factors to consider when it came to tolling the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Tom Kitchin

He replied there were several factors to consider: what was built, the direction of travel across both and congestion pricing the council was working on.

“There’s any number of different things that factor into all of those calculations and I’m trying not to get ahead of any of it because unlike previous times we’ve confronted this debate, we’re going to do the work first.

“Rather than just me spout off and say we’ve got a plan, and by the way I’ll work out how much it costs later and we’ll work out all the details and make a big, flashy announcement and stand up and say, ‘We’re building this and we’re building that,’ and everyone go, ‘Oh, that’s great,’ I’m trying not to do that.

“I’m trying to work through it in a proper way; actually look at what’s deliverable, what do we need, how long has the current bridge got, how does congestion pricing factor into it, what sort of toll do we need to charge, what’s economically sustainable, what about the diversions, what about congestion pricing?

“There’s any number of different complicated things you have to think about, and we’re trying to do it properly and facile debates about – you know – this and that, aren’t helpful.

“Anyway, rant over,” he finished, before ramping up again.

Bishop stressed the government was “a wee way away” from a decision and “everyone just needed to taihoa a bit”.

“Everyone says they want politicians to make comprehensive, well-informed, evidence-based, reasoned decisions and go through a thorough process. Well, that’s what we’re doing.

“Then the same people who say we really need to take our time on this and get this and get it right go, ‘What are you doing? Why can’t you tell me? How much will it cost? What will it be?’

“You can’t have it both ways. There’s a tension there. I get people want certainty, but when you’re spending 15 billion bucks of government money on a new bridge or tunnel – not saying one or the other – people would want us to take a proper process around it.

“I don’t think that’s unreasonable. We’re not shagging spiders here – we’re creating a massive multi-generational infrastructure project for the next 50 years of New Zealand. So let’s get it right.

“Sorry about the rant, but anyway, it’s been an interesting week.”

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No guarantee Moa Point will be fixed soon – water chair

Source: Radio New Zealand

Tiaki Wai board chair Will Peet. Supplied / Tiaki Wai

The chair of Wellington’s new water entity will not promise the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant will be fully fixed by July, when it takes over.

Tiaki Wai board chair Will Peet also will not give “absolute confidence” that people will be able to swim on south coast beaches next summer, but says he will provide updates about that in the coming months.

But he says the entity has a good shot at significantly improving Wellington’s water infrastructure, despite having to deal with serious problems.

Directors of the water entity met on Thursday in central Wellington.

Tiaki Wai is replacing Wellington Water and inheriting the region’s assets – providing drinking water, wastewater, and piped stormwater services from July.

It is also in line to inherit the extensively damaged Moa Point, which after a major failure earlier this month was sending millions of litres of raw sewage into Cook Strait every day.

Officials are currently tight-lipped about the cause of the delay, or when the plant will be fixed, citing an independent Crown review and insurance processes.

But Wellington Water chief executive Pat Dougherty previously said 80 percent of the electronics were damaged and some equipment parts may need to be brought in from overseas.

Peet said he expected to get an “operating plant of-sorts” by July, doubted it would be fully-fixed.

“There’s a lot of work to do with the plant, I think they’re still discovering what the state of things are. We will be getting some updates over the next while – I wouldn’t be making commitments that all things will be in and done in 90 days – not at all.”

This map shows the Moa Point sewage spill along Wellington’s south coast. The pipeline network is shown in red, including the 5-metre and 1.8-kilometre long outfall pipes discharging to the ocean. Supplied, CC BY-NC-ND

He said he was working through the specific details of the transfer agreement with Wellington City Council, including making sure the plant was able to do what it needed to.

“If there are any changes we’ll come back and let people know about what that is, but right now the focus is not about the legal agreements and the funds – it has to be on the recovery and minimising the amount of sewage going into the south coast.”

Peet said he would not comment on what caused the plant’s failure while an investigation was underway, though he said he was “interested” to find out like everyone else.

Asked whether he could give absolute confidence people would be able to swim at the beaches next year, once the entity had controlled the plant for months, Peet said he would provide updates on that in the future.

“I don’t think anybody in my position should give you something that says absolute confidence because that wouldn’t be the right thing to do. I’ll be able to give you more of an update on that in the coming weeks and months, as we know more as we get closer to taking over.”

(h) ‘A lot to be done’ before July – officials

During the Tiaki Wai board meeting, establishment director Dougal List said progress had been made in the asset transfer agreements, but there was “a lot of work still to go” before day one.

The complex paperwork and financial arrangements were currently being worked through with councils, List said.

Peet agreed, saying there was “a lot of work to be done”.

Wellingtonians – those living in Wellington City, Porirua, Hutt City, and Upper Hutt – would receive a separate water bill from 1 July for water services.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Peet said the organisation was “well in train” with being ready from July.

Untreated water leaking onto the capital’s south coast in early February. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

New chief executive Michael Brewster, who previously led Tasmania’s water utility, would start at the organisation on 2 March.

“Look, Moa point is a significant issue, but I don’t want to take away from all the other stuff that’s going on… there’s still Seaview, Titahi Bay, Karori wastewater treatment plants operating.”

The new entity had been promising more investment in Wellington’s chronically underfunded water infrastructure – but warned it may come at a higher cost.

Asked whether he was confident Wellington’s water infrastructure would improve, Peet said: “It will, but it will take some time.”

“I am confident that things will improve, we have got a very different makeup to what Wellington Water and the councils have had – we have got a good shot at making this significantly better.”

But he said there was 800 kilometres of the network where pipes had passed the end of their life, and “serious problems” to deal with.

“It didn’t take five minutes to get like this, it’s going to take longer than five minutes to fix.”

He said it was likely water bills would increase, but expected Wellingtonians to ask what improvements they were getting for that higher cost.

Already people are paying about 30 – 40 percent of their rates on water services, a spokesperson said.

On 25 March Tiaki Wai will release its water services strategy, which would give people a pricing strategy for their water bills, which will be different, depending on where they live in the region.

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Controversial high-rise development approved in Wellington

Source: Radio New Zealand

An artist’s impression of the seven-storey apartment building, Mayfair, that is proposed for Wellington’s Mt Victoria. Supplied / One to One Hundred Ltd

A controversial high-rise development has been approved in Mt Victoria in Wellington, despite strong opposition from neighbours.

The proposal for the seven-storey, 32-unit Mayfair apartment block was first lodged in late 2024, after the Wellington City Council relaxed rules about what could be built in character areas.

In his decision, Commissioner Alistair Aburn said the proposal’s effects on townscape were “acceptable and consistent with the outcomes anticipated under the recently revised and now operative District Plan (2024) provisions, which provide for residential buildings of at least six storeys in the High Density Residential Zone”.

He found that any adverse effects on the Elizabeth Street Heritage Area would be “less than minor and therefore be acceptable”.

Opponents to the development include filmmaker Dame Gaylene Preston and former Wellingtonian of the Year Ralph Highman.

Highman shares a private road with the development.

He said 25,000 truck movements were planned over two years in the construction of the apartment block, and neighbours had safety and access concerns.

“One of the developers’ main plans has been to rip up the pedestrian pathway to try and make it safer. I mean, on what kind of planet does ripping up a pedestrian pathway make a driveway safer? If you’ve got your kids walking up and that driveway to school each day, obviously, that’s a big concern.”

An artist’s impression of the seven-storey apartment building, Mayfair, that is proposed for Wellington’s Mt Victoria. Supplied / One to One Hundred Ltd

Dame Gaylene is a long-time Mt Victoria resident.

She said the development would require extensive geo-tech work, which was “crazy” given recent weather events.

“Particularly in light of what happened last weekend in Tauranga and other places in New Zealand… Hauling 5000 cubic metres of Mt Victoria out from the mountain, it’s on a slope, and carting it away down a shared driveway on 10-tonne trucks, with permission to do that over two years… I think that is a crazy sort of development to be putting there.”

In his decision, Commissioner Alistair Aburn acknowledged that there could be “no debate” the proposal would involve substantial earthworks over the majority of the site.

Council officials had noted that those earthworks had the “potential to result in adverse effects in terms of site stability, erosion and sediment control, dust emissions and visual effects.”

However, a council engineer had reviewed a Geotechnical Assessment provided by the applicant and concluded that the earthworks effects, “including site stability, erosion and sediment run-off”, and dust emissions could be appropriately managed during the construction phase.

Aburn said he was also satisfied that the visual effects of the proposal would be limited to the construction stage and would be “fully mitigated” once the building and site landscaping had been completed.

It was appropriate that the final shared driveway layout and detailed design plans were provided to affected residents and invited them to forward comments to the Council’s compliance monitoring officer, he said.

Ralph Highnam said opponents now had 15 days to decide whether to appeal the decision to the Environment Court.

The developer of the Mayfair apartment block, Forma Group, was approached for comment.

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Wellington Water appoints Bill Bayfield as new chairperson

Source: Radio New Zealand

Supplied

Wellington Water has announced a new board chairperson after Nick Leggett stepped down amid the Moa Point plant failure.

Bill Bayfield was appointed into the leadership role after having served on the water company’s board since September 2023.

Leggett stepped down from the job following the sewage plant failure which occurred two weeks ago – and had been sending tens of millions of litres of raw sewage into Cook Strait each day.

He said leadership carried responsibility, and stepping aside would allow Wellington Water to focus on fixing the problems and restoring public trust.

Bayfield acknowledged Leggett’s work in the role.

“On behalf of the Wellington Water Board, I would like to thank Nick for his valuable contribution and leadership over the past few years during his time as chair.”

Bayfield had been chief executive of Canterbury and Bay of Plenty Regional Councils and was also the CEO of water regulator Taumata Arowai.

He would take on the role as board chair effective immediately.

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Parking fines more than double in Hamilton after changes

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Libby Kirkby-McLeod

Parking changes in Hamilton city have come with a hefty price tag for drivers, with infringements more than doubling.

The total value of tickets in the central business district was also nearly five times higher the year after the changes were introduced. But the council said Hamilton central is still cheaper than most other cities in the country.

In October 2024, Hamilton City Council reduced the previous two hours free parking on central city streets to one hour free parking and required all cars to be registered via a streetside kiosk or parking app to receive the free parking and pay for more if needed.

At the same time, the government increased penalties for people misusing mobility parking and also increased the parking infringement and towage fees (which are not set by local councils but by central government).

Data released to RNZ under the Official Information Act showed that the year after the city changed to zoned parking, 5434 drivers parking in the ‘green’ zone (closest to Garden Place and the heart of the city) were issued with fines valued at $316,414. This compares to less than half that number of infringements, 2528, in the 12 months before the change.

Those fines had a total value of $64,645 and were in a period before the government changes.

Zooming in on the city’s main road, Victoria Street, the cost of fines issued rose by nearly 400 percent.

In the 12 months before the changes were introduced, 876 parking tickets were handed out with a combined value of $22,643.

Those numbers soared in the 12 months after the changes when 1461 parking tickets were handed out with a combined value of $90,470.

Despite this substantial new cost for some drivers, the council’s head of transport, Gordon Naidoo, said parking in Hamilton’s central city was still inexpensive compared with other city centres in New Zealand.

“Hamilton’s first hour of free on street parking is uncommon among major cities, which positions our city as one of the more affordable places for short stay parking,” Naidoo said.

RNZ asked whether the large increase in fines represented the fact the public either did not understand the changes or didn’t find them workable.

However, Naidoo said the increases were an expected part of people adjusting to the changes.

“Some drivers fail to register their vehicle for the first hour of free parking, which results in an infringement. We believe the system is workable for the public, but like any parking system it requires ongoing monitoring and clear communication to ensure people understand what is expected of them,” Naidoo said.

What the system did not have was the support of the mayor.

Mayor Tim Macindoe campaigned to return the city to two hours free parking and told RNZ that continued to be his position.

“I continue to advocate for the return of two hours’ free parking to make the CBD more welcoming and accessible, which is better for retailers, businesses and Hamiltonians. Parking arrangements from 1 July 2026 will be considered as part of the 2026/27 Annual Plan, and I have asked the new CBD revitalisation sub‑committee to include this in their work.

“However, the final decision rests with the full council, and due process must be followed,” he said.

The data provided to RNZ shows that not all fines were collected as revenue for council.

“The ‘value of infringements’ figures represents the amount issued, not the amounts paid,” said the council.

This was because fines could be disputed, withdrawn, or referred to the courts.

In the 12 months since the parking changes, $2,235,906 of fines were issued in Hamilton central.

Just over 68 percent of that amount, $1,664,143.78 was actually collected by the council.

Generally, Naidoo felt the current set-up, while not perfect, helped encourage turnover in high demand areas while still providing longer stay options where appropriate.

“This supports retailers, hospitality, and visitors by reducing the time people spend searching for a park. A good parking system isn’t just about enforcing rules or issuing tickets. It’s a tool for shaping how people move, access, and experience a city. We want people to find a park when they need one and get on with their day,” Naidoo said.

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Black Foils begin physical, emotional repairs after horror SailGP crash with France

Source: Radio New Zealand

Salvage crew survey the wreckage of Black Foils’ Amokura boat at New Zealand SailGP. James Gourley for SailGP

The Black Foils are drawing heavily on the strength of injured grinder Louis Sinclair as they come to grips with the horror crash that all but destroyed their F50 boat during New Zealand SailGP last weekend.

As the 13-boat fleet sprinted off the startline of Saturday’s third race, NZ driver Peter Burling seemed to lose control of Amokura’s rudder and swerved sharply into the path of France, whose boat ploughed over the top of bow, slicing it in two and leaving Sinclair with compound fractures in both legs.

He underwent surgery on the weekend and was pictured on social media overnight, leaving hospital on his own two feet.

“I just want to really commend Louis for how he’s handled himself throughout this whole incident,” Black Foils wing trimmer Blair Tuke said. “He’s been amazing really in true Louis fashion, and holding true to the values and characteristics we hope all our team members instil.

“Amazingly calm right from the first incident out on the water to the surgery in Auckland Hospital and as he comes out now for what will now be quite a long recovery back to full health.

“With his calm demeanour and unique sense of humour, he’s really brought strength to all of us through this time.”

The New Zealand team have spoken publicly for the first time since the high-speed crash that shocked thousands of spectators watching from the massive grandstand on Wynyard Point.

In happier times, the Black Foils, with Louis Sinclair second left, celebrate their SailGP victory at Portsmouth 2025. Jason Ludlow for SailGP

Team bosses Tuke and driver Burling are still processing exactly what happened in those fateful seconds before, during and after impact.

“We started off with a great two races, and were really enjoying the conditions and feeling comfortable in the boat,” Burling recalled.

“We started off race three and were going down reach one to windward of the Italian boat. We ended up high on the foil and ended up sliding sideways.

“We hit a system limit, which drastically escalated that situation, and had to take quite drastic action to avoid the Italian boat to leeward, which resulted in us touching down. Obviously, the incident followed that.”

Burling said once the spray had cleared, he could see his four crewmates safe, knowing strategist Liv Mackay was on the other side of the boat out of harm’s way.

Louis Sinclair leaves hospital, after surgery to compound fractures of both legs. Facebook/NZ SailGP Team

“At that stage, you’re thankful everyone’s safe, but very quickly we realised Louis had his legs stuck in the bottom of the cockpit and we can only commend Louis on his demeanour through that time.

“It was incredible to see someone in a situation like that remain so calm, and be such an instrumental part of telling us what he was feeling and where the pressure was, and getting the two boats apart.

“I think we can all learn a lot from Louis through this time and it’s pretty incredible to see the way he responded in the situation, but we’re also incredibly proud of the rest of our team and the way everyone came together in a tough situation, and the French team as well.

“They were dealing with situations on board, but definitely came straight to our aid.”

French strategist Manon Audinet sustained several abdominal bruising, when she was catapulted forward on impact, breaking the steering wheel. She is also under medical observation and is recovering well,

Burling has replayed the incident over and over in his mind, but has also had the benefit of a myriad other perspectives on the incident.

“The thing with SailGP is there are so many camera angles, all the audio and all the different aspects,” he explained. “It’s really nice in some ways to know that your memory of the whole situation was pretty accurate.

“It’s also interesting some things you didn’t see or weren’t concentrating on at the time, how everything unfolded.

New Zealand and France collide during New Zealand SailGP off Auckland’s Wynyard Point. Felix Diemer for SailGP

“It’s all part of the wider review process from here.”

New Zealand SailGP represented the first occasion all 13 teams raced on the water together, and other drivers suggested jamming that many boats onto the compact Waitematā Harbour course in tricky wind conditions probably didn’t help the situation.

Organisers responded by splitting the fleet into smaller heats on Sunday, increasing safety, but possibly detracting from the spectacle.

SailGP is still investigating the incident, but has already ruled New Zealand and France out of the Sydney regatta next week.

Inspections have confirmed Amokura’s central pod and port hull emerged relatively unscathed, and can be used to repair the damage to the French boat. Because they did not cause the impact, returning France to the startline will take priority.

Given the extent of damage to their boat, the Kiwis are probably waiting for completion of the next new boat, which SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts indicated could be June.

“From here, we’re still working out that exact path forward,” Burling said. “We definitely won’t be in Sydney and SailGP is still undertaking that wider planning process around when the Black Foils will be back on the startline.

“We’re having to play a little bit of a waiting game now.”

In the meantime, the mending continues.

“For the wider team, mental and physical health is paramount through this time,” Tuke said. “We’re just taking it day by day to make sure everyone is supported in the way that they need as individuals.

“It was a really horrific incident and how we manage our path back from here is really important.”

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British dual nationals with NZ passports no longer need new UK passport

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dual citizens face having to get both passports and keep them up to date – and to get a UK passport soon if they want to travel from the end of February. Gill Bonnett

The British government is now allowing dual nationals to have a lifelong digital stamp in their New Zealand passport instead of buying a new UK one.

Thousands of people have already rushed to buy a British passport after being told an alternative certificate of entitlement – costing £589 ($1329) – would last only as long as their current foreign passport.

But, in a change quietly announced on the UK passport’s website eight days ago, it said that from 26 February certificates of entitlement will be linked to new passports for free.

“At the moment certificates of entitlement are stickers (vignettes) placed in a passport. We are going to change this to a digital record.”

RNZ asked the British High Commission in Wellington if it had sent out a media release about any of the changes. It pointed to a January 2025 media release that dealt only with the issue of introducing ETAs (Electronic Travel Authorisations) and not the new requirement for British passport holders, or certificates of entitlement.

It has been asked for further comment on the issue of digital certificates of entitlement.

In questions about whether staff will be at airports to assist its citizens when the new passport requirement comes in next Wednesday, it said consular assistance was provided for all citizens abroad who needed it.

Many British migrants had asked why the passport requirement was introduced, after the UK government said it was to make their borders more secure. When asked for more information, the High Commission told RNZ it had already provided that reasoning.

Travel agents are warning travellers about next week’s border changes in the UK. Jasmine Fair / RNZ

Counting aliens

UK law professor Elspeth Guild, who specialises in border controls, said the rationale behind the changes could be led by a drive for better statistics.

“A number of countries insist that where their nationals are entering their ‘home’ country they must use their ‘home’ passport. This requirement seems to have a basis in the entitlement of countries to know whether their citizens are at home or not.

“The new insistence on the use of the home passport when entering a state, I think it [is] linked to the entry-exit databases where a lot of modifications were required to deal with dual nationals, and now states want to know. There is a justification in that citizens arriving home cannot be subject to immigration rules (at least in the UK), but if the authorities do not know that the person is a citizen they will be classified as an alien, and then when they fail to leave at the end of their permitted stay they mess up the statistics on how many ‘illegal’ immigrants are floating around.”

She said while revenue generation was also a possible reason for the new policy, several countries which permit dual nationality had tightened up their processes.

For travellers embarking on a trip to the UK next week who had British parents but no visible link to the UK, she had some words of comfort.

“Unless the place of birth stated on the passport indicates that the person may have birthright citizenship somewhere else, it is virtually impossible without a detailed investigation to know whether someone is a dual national. This is particularly so where citizenship was acquired through ancestry rather than place of birth.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand