Pauline Hanson proposes sweeping new limits on New Zealander migration to Australia
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has proposed sweeping new restrictions on some Kiwis moving to Australia, with migrants who gain New Zealand citizenship forced to wait up to a decade before relocating under her plan.
Hanson’s proposal would mark a major change to the long-standing trans-Tasman travel arrangement, which allows New Zealanders to live and work in Australia and gives Australians the same rights in New Zealand.
Hanson claimed some overseas-born migrants were using New Zealand citizenship as a back door to Australia and argued that tougher restrictions would benefit both countries.
‘I don’t want that. New Zealand can’t afford to lose those migrants,’ Hanson said in an interview with The New Zealand Herald.
‘I’d say you shouldn’t be able to migrate to Australia until you’ve been a New Zealand citizen for at least eight to ten years.’
Under her proposal, New Zealand-born citizens would still be allowed to move to Australia. The restrictions would apply only to New Zealand citizens born overseas.
Her radical proposal comes as Statistics New Zealand figures reveal that 35 per cent of New Zealand citizens who moved to Australia in 2025 were born overseas.
That was up from an average of 22 per cent between 2004 and 2011, and 33 per cent between 2016 and 2019.
Hanson (pictured) would make New Zealand citizens wait a decade before moving to Australia
Under her proposal, New Zealand-born citizens would still be allowed to move to Australia. However, citizens born overseas would have to wait at least eight to 10 years after gaining New Zealand citizenship before they could relocate
The rise reflects New Zealand’s increasingly diverse population. In 2023, almost 29 per cent of its residents were born overseas, compared with 19.5 per cent in 2001.
Hanson said New Zealanders already living in Australia would not need to worry about her proposed migration changes.
‘If they are law-abiding, why get rid of them? A lot of people like to employ Kiwis – they work hard. Why remove those who want to work and don’t want to bludge on the system and abuse it?’ she said.
Hanson also praised New Zealand First leader and former deputy prime minister Winston Peters, describing him as a politician she admires and would like to meet.
New Zealand First, which holds similar views to One Nation on immigration and national identity, has enjoyed a rise in support in recent months.
‘He has common sense; we’ve both been at the political game a long time,’ Hanson said.
‘I don’t know his policies, but what I’ve read is he is a very proud New Zealander trying to do the best for his country. I respect that.’
