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Govt criticised for charging visitor levy for people who are denied visas

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Jan 2020, 9:48AM
People who aren't allowed into the country are still charged the $35 international visitor levy. (Photo / NZ Herald)

Govt criticised for charging visitor levy for people who are denied visas

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Jan 2020, 9:48AM

The Government's being criticised for charging an international visitor levy for people who are denied a visitors visa, but one lawyer says that's just tough luck.

A $35 fee was introduced last year for visitors entering the country. If access is denied, they still have to pay.

Between June and December, more than $850,000 was pocketed from people who never set foot in New Zealand.

Queen City Law principal Marcus Beveridge told Mike Yardley the fee is fully disclosed by Immigration New Zealand.

"It's clearly set out when you go online and apply. There's not much to complain about, to be frank."

He says that she makes it clear the levy is non-refundable.

"The idea is that those we don't want to come to the land of the milk and manuka honey, that they don't come, and we don't spend millions removing them."

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