New NZ passport and citizenship rules

Last night, 14 April 2005, the controversial Identity (Citizenship and Travel Documents) bill passed its final hurdle in parliament. The following are some of the major changes.

New Zealand passport changes:

New NZ passports will have a validity of only 5 years from 10 years.
The law also gives the government the right to revoke or cancel New Zealand passports.

Citizenship grant:

A five year standown period for NZ permanent residents before they can apply for NZ citizenship. Prior to this it takes three years as permanent resident including while under a temporary permit (work, visitor, study).

Citizenship by birth:

From 1 January 2006, a child born in New Zealand should have at least one NZ citizen parent or a parent granted to stay in NZ permanently under the Immigration Act of 1987 or permanently reside in the Cook Islands, Niue, or Tokelau.

These changes automatically come to affect after Royal Assent except for the citizenship by birth which will take effect on 1 January 2006.

Sources:
Passport law will protect NZ, Government says. 15/04/2005. The New Zealand Herald
Hawkins: NZ "citizenship that's worth the wait" (Press Release). 15/04/2005. Scoop.co.nz
MP Criticises Passport Laws. 15/04/2005. xtraMSN-Newstalk ZB