Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee has issued a stark message to New Zealanders living in Australia: seek dual citizenship or realise you'll have fewer rights.
Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee has advised New Zealanders living in Australia to consider seeking dual citizenship to ensure their rights. Photo: 123RF / RNZ
The tough advice comes ahead of his meeting today with expat lobby group Oz Kiwi in Wellington.
In recent years, New Zealanders living across the ditch have been stung by policies that reduce their entitlements, including a massive hike in university fees.
Oz Kiwi wants New Zealand to do more to level the playing field.
Its committee chair Tim Gassin told Morning Report that New Zealanders living in Australia should receive "full rights".
"There's a long standing relationship between the two countries...the movement of people, the movement of goods, the movement of services, [and] investment.
"You can't just pick and choose what you want out of this and the reality is you've got Kiwis over in Australia [who are] contributing to the economy, they're paying their taxes, they should receive full rights after a period of living there," Mr Gassin said.
