Pacific visa petition tests NZ First as political tensions rise

Hundreds of supporters are expected at Parliament’s forecourt on Wednesday as a long-running campaign for visa-free travel for some Pacific nationals reaches a political crossroads.

The petition, which calls for eligible Pacific visitors to be granted a three-month visitor visa on arrival in New Zealand, has gathered close to 50,000 signatures.

The petition will be formally presented to New Zealand First leader Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters, who is expected to outline his party’s position shortly after receiving it.

Led by former National MP Anae Arthur Anae, the campaign argues current visa settings place unnecessary strain on Pacific families, particularly during funerals, medical emergencies, and key cultural events.

In an interview on Pacific Mornings, Anae said the system was no longer fit for purpose. “This can’t continue forever. It has to be fixed and I want to fix it now,” he said.

Wednesday’s presentation marks a key moment for the petition because it shifts the focus from public advocacy to a test of coalition politics.

Listen to Anae Arthur Anae's full interview below.

As a key partner in the government, NZ First’s stance could determine whether the proposal gains traction or stalls.

Coalition partners have so far sent mixed signals. ACT leader David Seymour says he is sympathetic to the argument, describing Pacific nations as New Zealand’s closest neighbours.

But Seymour framed visa-free access as a question of risk and compliance. Speaking to media at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, he says any change would depend on visitors following the rules and returning home.

David Seymour speaking to media at Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Photo/Supplied

“We’ll always listen to him [Anae] but we are going to have to, as a government, make the same calculation as every other government makes and that the New Zealand government makes on every visa issue,” Seymour says.

He rejected claims Pacific people face unfair barriers and says Immigration New Zealand already prioritises urgent cases such as funerals and medical emergencies. But he acknowledged others may have had different experiences.

National has yet to formally consider the petition. But Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, also speaking at Waitangi, pointed to changes announced last April that made travel easier for some Pacific nationals.

This has been seen as a reluctance by the party to commit to further reform at this stage.

In opposition, Labour has taken a cautious but open position. In a statement, Pacific Peoples spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni says the party is “certainly open” to reviewing current visa settings.

“There's ongoing work in this space and we'll need to discuss it as a caucus before taking a formal position,” Sepuloni says.

Listen to Teanau Tuiono's full interview below.

The Greens are the only party to publicly offer full support for the petition. MP Teanau Tuiono says New Zealand’s visa settings are inconsistent with its identity as a Pacific nation.

In an interview on Pacific Mornings, Tuiono pointed to previous petitions including calls for an overstayers’ amnesty where select committee discussions identified visa-waiver access as a possible solution.

“Why is it that countries like Israel can get visa waiver access? I think Mexico as well, and yet people right next door can't get in,” Tuiono says.

“It would show that we're serious about being part of a family of Pacific nations and I think that's important for us to support.”

The petition will be formally presented at Parliament’s forecourt at midday on 11 February. Whether it leads to policy change now rests on how far the government, and especially New Zealand First, is willing to go.