Petition request

That the House of Representatives review the present requirements for Pacific people to enter NZ on a visitor visa, and allow Pacific people to be treated in the same way as people from the 60 plus other countries who are eligible for NZeTAs.

Petition reason

Pacific people are NZ’s neighbours. I believe we share close ties and have stood together in wars. We came here from the 1940s and helped build NZ. The 1970s Dawn Raids targeted us but research later showed Pacific people were a minority of overstayers but the majority of prosecutions. I believe there is discrimination towards people of the Pacific which must end. I propose that Pacific people from Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu be issued a visitor visa on arrival in NZ.

Petition progress

  • Open for signatures
  • Closed for signatures
  • Select Committee
  • Reported
  • Referred to Minister
Number of signatures: 48367
Date presented: 11 Feb 2026
Considered by: Petitions
Presenting member: Rt Hon Winston Peters
Closing date: 31 Jan 2026