UPDATED 8.48AM: John Key's insisting urgent changes to passport laws, won't see New Zealanders become stateless citizens.

The Government's released a final draft of the bill aimed at stopping foreign fighters.

The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking people with cancelled passports will still be able to return home.

"They would be able to get a temporary permit to travel back to New Zealand, but what it would stop them doing is travelling to other places," he says.

The bill will be tabled in the House tomorrow.

 

Labour's put up a fight to get some concessions, but is still not thrilled with the result.

The agency will still have a 48-hour window to spy before it must receive a warrant - and Labour's Phil Goff believes that's too long.

He says it's strange that despite today's technology, the SIS needs longer than the initial 12-hour period to contact its minister and get a warrant signed off.

Meanwhile an expert believes the new laws may be overstating the threat to New Zealand, and could be unnecessary.

Foreign Relations expert Robert Patman is concerned it also lets emergency surveillance be conducted for 48 hours, without a warrant.

He says the Government has rapidly expanded surveillance powers while failing to back up the claims of a terrorist threat, with evidence.