National Party proposes passport-free travel trial for Australians and Kiwis ahead of 2028 T20 World Cup

At Coronet Peak in Queenstown, National Party leader Christopher Luxon and tourism spokeswoman Louise Upston presented a new election pledge to pilot a passport-free travel experience for Australians and New Zealanders ahead of the jointly hosted 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The trial would require travelers to submit passport details and a digital Traveller Declaration before departure, allowing immigration, customs and biosecurity checks to be completed electronically.

Eligible passengers would then use a dedicated arrival lane at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown airports, leveraging existing eGate and facial-recognition technology. While the system would eliminate paper passports at the gate, it would still permit baggage inspections and officer referrals when needed. The policy responds to the 1.52 million Australian arrivals recorded in 2025, who collectively spent $4.2 billion in New Zealand. Luxon framed the initiative as a way to enhance tourism flow without compromising border integrity.