New Zealand eGate services extended to S.Korean passport holders

The eGate services are extended to eligible ePassport holders from the Republic of Korea, announced New Zealand government on Wednesday.

Minister of Customs Jenny Salesa said on Wednesday that New Zealand will be even more attractive for Korean tourists following the new approach, "eGate access means travel will be quicker and more convenient for tens of thousands of Korean visitors arriving and departing each year," said Salesa.

The eGates are an automated passport control system available at international airports in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.

Korean visitor numbers to New Zealand rose from 53,000 in 2014 to 87,000 in 2018. Those 87,000 Korean visitors spent a combined 277 million New Zealand dollars (177.3 million U.S. dollars) across New Zealand, according to official statistics.

The expansion of eGate access was confirmed late Tuesday afternoon by New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters during a bilateral meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha in Seoul.

The South Korea is one of New Zealand's largest trading partners. There are over 36,000 Koreans living in New Zealand.

Currently, the passport holders of New Zealand, Australia, Britian, Canada, the United States, China, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Singapore and Japan who are aged 12 years or older, are able to use eGates in New Zealand.