Facial recognition, smart gates and speedy transfers: Albanese says seamless trans-Tasman travel to arrive in June

Photo of a single suitcase made of fabric material and one passport in pocket.

Anthony Albanese said that he and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins are looking at introducing seamless trans-Tasman travel by June 2024.

The “seamless experience of going through from country to country” would involve smart gates that facilitate speedy transfer processes between both countries, Albanese said.

“Before you get on a plane in either country it is already recognised that you are OK to come in. And therefore you can just go through smart gates in a seamless way and in a timely way as well,” he today said in Wellington.

“We have many business opportunities between us and the fact that business people will go from country to country regularly – what we want to make sure is that that experience is the best it can possibly be. And the efficiencies can be gained by doing so.”

The Prime Minister said he and Hipkins were putting the move as a matter of urgency “because it is really a commonsense response.”

These reforms will mean travellers likely won’t have to stop and produce passports, travel documents and boarding passes when crossing the pond.

Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TFF) CEO Margy Osmond said the commitment to establishing a joint working group to report back by the end of June next year, was a fantastic first step towards reform.

“This is terrific news for travellers and the tourism sector. We want to make travelling between Australia and New Zealand as smooth as possible and this group will help lead the best path forward to achieve it,” Osmond said.

“TTF and our colleagues at the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum have been working towards and advocating for a seamless, hi-tech border and it is great to see both Prime Ministers responding to the opportunity this represents. Both countries have listened and recognised the importance of these changes.”

This comes after the TTF called on the trans-Tasman twins (our wording, not theirs) to trial this new entry and screening tech earlier this week. Among this tech includes digital arrival cards, rather than paper ones, and the facial recognition technology.


Featured Image: Close up of New Zealand Passport in Black Suitcase Pocket (iStock/Aaftab Sheikh)

Latest News

  • Travel Agents

Expedia’s chief technology officer and senior engineer sacked for company policy violation

Travel company Expedia Group said its chief technology officer and a senior engineering leader over “a violation of company policy” just two days after the company held its annual product and partner conference in Las Vegas. CTO Rathi Murthy and Sreenivas Rachamadugu, the senior vice president of Core Services Product and Engineering, have been let […]

  • Aviation

Qantas and Virgin change tune on aviation ombudsman ahead of white-paper release

Qantas and Virgin have backflipped on their stance and given conditional approval to an ombudsman that would look over passenger complaints. The news comes ahead of the soon to be released aviation white-paper, criticism of the major carriers’ delay and cancellation rates and a $120m fine for Qantas. Qantas cops $100m penalty with passengers to […]

  • Attractions

Wackadoo! Bluey’s World is set to open in Brisbane

Wackadoo! The eagerly anticipated Bluey’s World is set to open in Brisbane, on 7 November, offering families an unforgettable Bluey adventure with tickets on sale from tomorrow. Bluey’s World is a one-of-a-kind, immersive experience that will take visitors into the Heeler’s iconic family home, backyard and beyond – for real life. Get ready to play […]

  • Destinations

Listening to whales, followed by Ales and Prawn Tails on the Sunshine Coast

Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is preparing to welcome more than 40,000 humpback whales that are making their way up the Australian east coast on their annual migration. The Sunshine Coast is one of Australia’s premier whale tourism destinations, built on its long-established whale watching cruises and Sunreef’s pioneering Swim with Whales experience, which celebrates its 10th […]

  • Aviation
  • Travel Agents

Webjet relaunches partnership with AirAsia with a huge Asia flights sale

Online travel agency Webjet has have relaunched their partnership with AirAsia with a huge Asia flights sale, available until 2 June. To give customers a greater breadth of choice and price point, hundreds of new flight options to Aussie favourite destinations have been added, including Bali, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok via AirAsia, AirAsiaX, Thai AirAsia […]

  • Luxury

Why luxury clients are opting for immersive experiences over material items

The Luxury Travel Collection’s (LTC) inaugural business owners Soiree took place on Hayman Island last week. The event saw luxury leaders gathering to find out more about the key trends shaping the industry. The Immersion Day, held on Thursday 16 May 2024, followed the growing luxury client trend of valuing immersive experiences over material items. […]

  • Conferences

Empowering underserved communities: Expedia Group’s drive for more inclusive travel

Expedia Group has used the EXPLORE conference at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas to highlight initiatives that empower underserved communities worldwide.   In a groundbreaking move towards fostering diversity and inclusion within the travel industry, Expedia’s Global Social Impact and Sustainability Team is dedicated to shaping a travel landscape that is safe, welcoming, and accessible […]

  • Cruise

P&O rescues Rotary volunteers after collapse of Air Vanuatu

P&O Cruises Australia has answered a plea for help from a group of young Australian Rotary volunteers, stranded in Vanuatu following the collapse of Air Vanuatu. The students, many of them teenagers from Albury, NSW, were volunteering for a youth project run by the Hive Rotary Club Australia when the airline abruptly cancelled all flights, […]

  • Destinations

Intrepid continues expansions with launch of first DMC in Jordan

Intrepid has increased its presence in the Middle East with the opening of its first destination management company in Jordan. Based in Amman, the local team will operate Intrepid’s range of nine experiential small group tours in Jordan from this summer, with a view to expanding the range for 2025 and beyond. Zina Bencheikh, managing […]

  • Appointments

Minor hotels appoints Puneet Dhawan to key Asia role

Global hotel owner and operator Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as head of Asia as the group plots its growth in Asia and India. From July, Dhawan will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia, working in close collaboration with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team and will report […]

  • Appointments

Abercrombie & Kent and Crystal appoint Evon Ler to director of sales, Asia

Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group have announced that Evon Ler will join them in the new role of director of sales, Asia. She will work closely with Tony Archbold (VP, Sales, APAC, Crystal) and Susan Haberle (VP, Sales & Partnerships, APAC, A&K) with trade support across the region. Ler comes to the A&K family with more […]