Taiwanese to gain visa-free entry to NZ

Taiwanese passport holders travelling will not be required from November 30 to apply for a visa to come to New Zealand, and the Taiwanese Business Association says this will bring back tourists and students from the island in significant numbers.

"Fishing and golfing in New Zealand have always been a hit, but the hassle of having to apply for a visa has made many opt to holiday in other, visa-free countries instead," said the association's chairwoman, lawyer Royal Reed.

"A result is also that New Zealand education and business opportunities fell off the radar for the Taiwanese, because fewer people there talked about New Zealand," Ms Reed said.

Visitor numbers from Taiwan to New Zealand plummeted from a high of 41,485 in 2000 to just 14,730 last year.

According to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, more than a third, or 12,000 of the 35,000 Taiwanese who emigrated in the mid-90s, chose New Zealand as their settlement destination.

But that number dropped to just about a dozen families moving here permanently in 2007.

The rest chose Australia, America and Canada instead because of better business and job opportunities.

Immigration New Zealand said the visa-waiver decision had been taken as part of a review of New Zealand's waiver assessment framework.

"New Zealand's visa waiver programme is designed to reduce cost and facilitate travel for tourists, short-term students and business people."

Ms Reed said recent changes in Immigration's business migration policies had also reignited interest from Taiwanese wanting to move here as investor or entrepreneurial migrants.

"The combined policies will definitely be bringing a significant number of Taiwanese back to New Zealand."

In other changes taking effect on the same day, a provision listing the type of permits available to those coming under the Working Holiday Scheme policy will be removed.

"The primary objective of the scheme is to allow young people to holiday in New Zealand, but also allow them to ... work and study in accordance with their scheme."