NZ appeal against tighter UK visa move

The Government is preparing to argue against a proposal by the British Government to halve visa-free periods for New Zealand tourists wanting to travel to the UK.

New Zealand travellers now need a visa only if they are going to spend more than six months in Britain. But tough new rules from the British Home Office revealed last month propose reducing that period to three months.

The move would apply to all non-European Union travellers, and is aimed at stopping overstayers. A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said officials were preparing to make a submission on the matter.