A bill extending the life of passports from five to 10 years has been sent to select committee with the support of all parties.
After Question Time, Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne said the Passports Amendment Bill (No 2) was concise but important as it would make passport provision more convenient for users. The bill would allow for the modernisation of passports to take into account new technology, but its main point was to allow for 10 year passports to be issued for those over 16 years of age.
The passport life was reduced from 10 years to 5 years in 2005 because of security concerns. These concerns had been addressed and other countries had increased their lifetime of their passports, Dunne said.
Labour MP Adrain Rurawhe said the passport was a national taonga, but New Zealanders did not like five year passports and had actively sought to increase it. Labour supported this happening.
On a voice vote the bill was sent to the Government Administration Committee with a report back date of October 31.
MPs began the third reading of the Social Assistance (Portability to Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau) Bill
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