EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF TONGA CONSTITUTING AN AGREEMENT ON THE WAIVER OF VISAS

(Nuku’alofa, 30 October 1986)

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 1 DECEMBER 1986

No. 1

His Excellency Mr J. G. AMMUNDSEN
New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga

To

His Royal Highness Crown Prince TUPOUTO’A
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence
of the Kingdom of Tonga

New Zealand High Commission 
Nuku’alofa, Tonga

30 October 1986

Yours Royal Highness

I have the honour to refer to recent discussions between representatives of our two Governments concerning arrangements to facilitate travel between our two countries and to suggest that a visa agreement in the following terms be concluded between the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga and the Government of New Zealand:

1 Tongan citizens holding valid Tongan passports may enter New Zealand as temporary visitors without obtaining a visa provided their intended stay does not exceed three months.

2 New Zealand citizens holding valid New Zealand passports may enter Tonga as temporary visitors without obtaining a visa provided their intended stay does not exceed three months.

3 The foregoing shall not exempt Tongan or New Zealand citizens from the respective requirements of the New Zealand or Tonga authorities regarding entry, residence (whether temporary or permanent), and employment or occupation of foreigners. Persons who are unable to satisfy the respective immigration authorities that they comply with these requirements shall be liable to be refused permission to enter or land.

4 These provisions shall not restrict the appropriate authorities in New Zealand or Tonga from denying entry into their territories of any person they may consider undesirable or from temporarily suspending this Agreement for reasons of public order, health or security.

5 For the purposes of the foregoing:

A The term 'temporary visitors' in paragraph one and two shall include business visitors but shall not include persons who enter New Zealand or Tonga with the intention of taking up employment or of engaging in a profession or occupation.

B The term "New Zealand'', where used as a territorial description shall exclude the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.

6 The Agreement shall remain in force until ninety days after the date on which either party notifies the other in writing of its desire to terminate the Agreement.

7 If the foregoing terms are acceptable to the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga I have the honour to propose that this letter and your reply to that effect shall constitute an Agreement between our two Governments which shall enter into force on 1st December 1986.

Yours sincerely

J. G. AMMUNDSEN
High Commissioner

No. 2 

His Royal Highness Crown Prince TUPOUTO’A
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence
of the Kingdom of Tonga

To 

His Excellency Mr J. G. AMMUNDSEN
New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nuku’alofa, Tonga

30 October 1986

Yours Excellency,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your Excellency’s Note of today’s date, which reads as follows:
[as in No. 1]

I have the further honour to confirm that the foregoing terms are acceptable to the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga and agree that Your Excellency’s Note and this Note shall constitute an agreement between our two Governments which shall enter into force on 1 December 1986.

I avail myself of this opportunity to extend to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.

HRH Crown Prince TUPOUTO’A
Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Defence of the Kingdom of Tonga.