KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister Helen Clark says New Zealand was instrumental in getting Britain to leave visa requirements alone for tourists, business people and academics.
New Zealanders can continue to stay in the United Kingdom for up to six months without requiring a visa following the overnight decision.
The traditional right of entry to Britain was at risk when the Home Officer earlier this year decided to look at the issue because of rising immigrant numbers.
Britain had also considered reducing the period academic visitors could stay but that would not change either and would remain at 12 months.
It was yet to announce whether the ancestry visa, which allowed people whose grandparents were born in Britain to live there for four years and apply for residency, would be abolished or not.
Miss Clark had raised concerns with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and the New Zealand High Commission in Britain made a submission.
"It's been very exciting to have the decision out of the British Government that New Zealanders' rights as tourists and as business people and as academics visiting Britain have been preserved as they were," Miss Clark said.
"The British government has made this clear this has happened in no small part because of the very strong bond between Britain and New Zealand."
Miss Clark said MPs from different parties in Britain had spoken in support of New Zealand.
"I think they had a good look overall at the tourism visa issue and realised that so many people who come to Britain spend their own money, contribute to the British economy, and really to shorten the time of entry visa free from six months to three didn't make any economic sense for them."
Miss Clark said the special relationship between Britain and New Zealand was not just historic and as many Brits emigrated to New Zealand, it would be good if their offspring could take advantage of ancestry visas.
A decision is expected next month on that issue.
The change could affect the thousands of New Zealanders every year who include work experience in Britain as part of their overseas experience.
The British High Commission previously said it received from New Zealanders about 4000 applications a year for an ancestry visa.
- NZPA
