Australia pressured New Zealand into tightening its citizenship laws because of fears it could be used as a back door to gain entry into Australia, a NZ government MP said today.
| Somebody has been paying attention. |
Progressive Party MP Matt Robson said Australian concerns were one of the reasons for the amendments, which include cancelling automatic citizenship for all babies born in the country. "Definitely there has been pressure from Australia at different times, of bringing up the question that New Zealand mustn't be seen as a back door," Robson said. " ... I know that Australia have raised this issue of whether New Zealand is a back door entry into - now I'm Australian - our pristine country." New Zealand has visa-free arrangements with a number of countries including Australia.
As first mooted in March, the New Zealand government is amending its laws to no longer give automatic citizenship to a child born in New Zealand to parents who are not permanent residents or citizens. Other changes include increasing from three to five years the time immigrants have to spend in New Zealand before they can apply for citizenship. |