New Zealand News Dispatches Depature cards on the way out

Paper-based departure cards for people leaving the country could be removed by Christmas, Statistics New Zealand says.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wants them gone after the issue was raised at the Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum.

Currently those leaving the country fill out a written form, with the information used for immigration and tourism data.

Australia removed all departure cards in July last year and is working to replace it with a digital solution.

Population statistics senior manager Peter Dolan said Statistics New Zealand was hoping to follow suit by Christmas 2018.

“This would remove the current primary purpose of the departure card and would mean six and a half million fewer transactions between government and travellers.”

“I think the reduction of the burden, six and a half million fewer transactions, from our point of view would be a big win for New Zealand.”

Dolan said they were still looking at alternative ways of collecting the data. Like Australia, New Zealand would still need arrival cards for now.