From November, transiting Chinese passport holders won't need a visa to pass through New Zealand airports.  

They'll can instead get a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority that's processed in four hours, and lasts for two years.  

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told Ryan Bridge our Chinese visitor numbers are lagging at about 65% pre-Covid levels, so they're doing anything to help.  

She says it will also significantly increase the amount of freight from China and South America and bring down freight prices. 

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