UK drops plans to end NZ ancestry visa

Fears that New Zealanders will lose their right to British ancestry visas have been allayed, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today.

Helen Clark said she welcomed the announcement by the British Home Office that New Zealanders with grandparents born in the United Kingdom will continue to be able to live and work in Britain for up to five years on an ancestry visa.

This follows recent news that the British government had dropped consideration of stripping New Zealanders of visa free access to the United Kingdom for up to six months.

"The two decisions mean that New Zealanders will continue to enjoy good access to Britain," Helen Clark said.

"They follow extensive consultations between British and New Zealand officials. I also raised the matter personally with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown."

The British government has been reviewing its immigration policy and abolishing the ancestry visa was one of the options.

Helen Clark said for generations New Zealanders had been able to use their ancestral links to Britain and the decision would mean the traditional "OE" (overseas experience) could continue.

"It reflects the huge goodwill towards New Zealand in Britain," she said.

- NZPA