The Prime Minister has returned from Australia, celebrating a big win in trans-Tasman relations.
The Australian government has announced a pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders, restoring reciprocity to the relationship.
It was marked by a citizenship ceremony in Brisbane for more than 200 new Aussies, presided over by Chris Hipkins and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Some of them had waited more than a decade to finally get what they wanted.
The Australian government can expect many more ceremonies to come, after making the pathway easier for New Zealanders.
Chris Hipkins and Anthony Albanese’s day began with sombre reflection at a Brisbane cemetery, as they unveiled plaques for previously unnamed New Zealand soldiers who died during the two World Wars.
The move means from July, around 350,000 New Zealanders can claim all the rights in Australia that Australians already have in New Zealand.
“New Zealand has been ahead of Australia, before today,” Albanese says.
Hipkins says the move would ultimately benefit New Zealand as well.
Albanese was asked twice about AUKUS, and the potential for New Zealand to participate in the non-nuclear pillar of the agreement.
Credit: sunlive.co.nz
