What's happening in NZ?

Getting Travel Documents in Order

With the border reopening, it’s time to look at your family’s travel documents. Whose documents have expired? Where are the family passports anyway?!

Today, we’re particularly addressing children born since you travelled into or out of New Zealand.*

Children born overseas to at least one New Zealander (by birth or grant…but not descent) are entitled to New Zealand citizenship by descent, generally providing all the benefits of New Zealand citizenship except the right to pass citizenship to their children. SOURCE

Citizenship by descent can be registered at the same time as applying for a NZ passport for the child, and the process is pretty straightforward:

   → Complete the application.
   → Gather the evidence and photographs listed on coverpage 2 of the application.
   → Find a qualifying witness to complete pages 6-8 of the application and verify the photographs.
   → Indicate whether you want to apply for a passport for the child on question 40.
   → Pay the application fee and any applicable courier fees, as outlined on pages 9 and 10 of the application.

Under current law, children born in New Zealand are only New Zealand citizens if, at the time of birth, at least one parent was a New Zealand citizen or held a visa allowing them to reside in NZ indefinitely. SOURCE

If a child born in New Zealand isn’t a NZ citizen, their citizenship will typically need to be sorted out before travelling. Even if a child is a NZ citizen, parents with other passports may choose to register a child's birth with the parental country/ies of citizenship. There can be important tax, inheritance, and legal impacts to consider before doing so, and we recommend getting advice specific to your circumstances. Registering the child’s birth and citizenship with another country varies from country to country.

*This information is NOT intended as legal advice. If you require legal advice, we’d be happy to refer you to a qualified lawyer.

Prepare for Working Life in NZ

Over the last few years, we have dearly missed being able to welcome so many expats to the professional world in New Zealand. With the border opening and exponentially more visas being processed, we are hopeful that we’ll soon be welcoming many of you to contribute to our dynamic, exciting, innovative professional community.

Certainly, the prospect of working in a new country and culture can be worrisome. Worry not. We’ve recently shared a series of blogs to help you set appropriate expectations and resolve your doubts.

If you’re looking for a new role, you might be keen on tips for landing a job in NZ. Maybe you want to know how to adapt to a NZ work environment, including whether you should prepare to be a generalist or specialist in Aotearoa, or perhaps you want to know how NZ work culture compares with other places, like Germany. Even the most committed amongst us should know how to make the most of New Zealand’s generous paid time off.

Immigration & Border Updates

Border regulations have moved away from MIQ and toward a self-testing regimen for all arrivals to New Zealand.

The border is currently open to:

→ Vaccinated and unvaccinated New Zealand citizens
→ Vaccinated New Zealand residents
→ Vaccinated travellers with a border exception
→ Vaccinated travellers on a working holiday scheme
→ Other vaccinated eligible travellers under current border settings

In addition, the following vaccinated people will be able to enter from the following times:

BEGINNING 12 APRIL:

Australian citizens and permanent residents
Current temporary work and student visa holders from anywhere in the world, with a valid visa who can still meet their visa requirements — this includes both visa holders currently offshore, and those in New Zealand who choose to travel overseas and wish to return
Up to 5,000 international students from anywhere in the world for semester 2

BEGINNING 1 MAY:

Visitors from countries who do not need a visa (visa waiver visitors)
Visitors from other countries who already hold a valid visitor visa

FROM JULY:

Travellers arriving under the Accredited Employer Work Visa categories

Processing of all visa categories, including visitor and student visas, is anticipated to resume from October and is subject to being moved forward.

Pass the Parcel

Pass the Parcel is a children's game with British roots that is alive and well at children's parties in New Zealand.

The game centers around a gift that is wrapped in many layers of gift wrap or fabric (ideally equal to the number of children playing). Within each layer is a small prize, like a notebook, pen, or lollipop. Children pass the parcel while music plays. Once the music is stopped, the person holding the parcel opens one layer of wrapping and gets to keep the gift. Then the music and passing and unwrapping continue until the center gift is revealed.