Let’s be honest – the changes New Zealand announced to make it “easier and cheaper” for Pacific Islanders to visit aren’t generosity. They’re the bare minimum, dressed up as progress.

A 24-month multi-entry visa? A trial scheme from Australia with a catch? We’re still talking about applications, fees, and conditions. Meanwhile, citizens of countries with no historical, cultural, or genealogical ties to Aotearoa walk in visa-free without blinking. Why?

In March, an immigration expert told RNZ that Pacific Islanders have a “very high risk” of overstaying. That message hasn’t changed in decades. It’s the same excuse used during the Dawn Raids. It’s the same thinking that sees Pacific people as a problem to manage – not as partners, not as whānau.

Advocates, including New Zealand’s Green Party, have called for extending visa-free travel to Pacific nations, pointing to the deep familial and historical ties. But the government remains cautious, citing concerns about potential overstays and the need for immigration oversight.

We’ve cleaned your hospitals, taught your children, picked your fruit, built your roads, played in your national teams, and buried our elders in this soil. Yet we’re still treated like a threat.

If the real concern is overstayers, then say it outright: the system doesn’t trust us. But let’s also acknowledge the hypocrisy – overstayer risks exist across all communities, yet only the Pacific is constantly reminded of it.

It’s not complicated. If you claim that the Pacific is your family, prove it. Family doesn’t ask for paperwork every time you want to come over. Family doesn’t charge you a fee to reconnect with your roots.

These visa changes are better than nothing. But they’re not good enough. Not for people who’ve given everything to this country and ask only for dignity in return.

Put the Pacific on the waiver list. No more delays. No more excuses.

Q&A:-

Why the New NZ Visa Changes for the Pacific Are Not Enough

Q: Isn’t a 24-month visa better than what we had before?
Yes — but “better than before” doesn’t mean fair. Pacific people still have to apply, pay, and wait. Meanwhile, people from places like the US, UK, or Germany just turn up without needing a visa.

Q: So what’s the difference between a visa and a visa waiver?
A visa means you must:

• Apply ahead of time
• Pay a fee
• Wait for approval

A visa waiver means:

• You don’t need to apply
• You either enter with just a passport or a simple online check like an NZeTA
• Travel is flexible and fast — especially in emergencies

Q: Why does this matter so much?
Because when your loved one dies, or there’s a family event, or your sports team gets an invite — you shouldn’t have to fight for permission to attend. That’s what Pacific people still go through.

Q: But isn’t this new policy a sign of progress?
It’s a step — but a cautious one. It doesn’t change the message: We don’t trust you enough to let you in without conditions.

Q: Why do Pacific people still have to prove themselves?
An immigration expert told RNZ in March that Pacific people are seen as a high overstayer risk. That’s the same logic used in the Dawn Raids. It’s outdated and insulting.

Q: What would a visa waiver mean for the Pacific?

• Easier travel for family, culture, and education
• More dignity for people with deep connections to Aotearoa
• A real statement that Pacific nations are equal partners — not managed visitors

Q: What should change now?
Add Pacific Island nations to New Zealand’s visa waiver list.
No more applications. No more hoops. No more excuses.