EXCHANGE OF LETTERS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF TUVALU CONSTITUTING AN AGREEMENT ON THE WAIVER OF VISAS

(Suva, 7 and 24 November 1986)

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 1 DECEMBER 1986

No. 1

His Excellency Mr ROD GATES
High Commissioner for New Zealand in Tuvalu

To

The Right Honourable Dr Tomasi Puapua PC
Prime Minister of Tuvalu

New Zealand High Commission 
Suva, Fiji 
7 November 1986

Your Excellency

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 Tuvalu and the Government of New Zealand:

1 Tuvalu citizens holding valid Tuvalu 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 Tuvalu as temporary visitors without obtaining a visa provided their intended stay does not exceed three months.

3 The foregoing shall not exempt Tuvalu or New Zealand citizens from the respective requirements of the New Zealand or Tuvalu 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 Tuvalu 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 Tuvalu 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 Tuvalu 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.

Please accept Prime Minister, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Yours sincerely

ROD GATES 
HIGH COMMISSIONER

No. 2 

The Right Honourable Dr Tomasi Puapua PC
Prime Minister of Tuvalu

To 

His Excellency Mr ROD GATES 
High Commissioner for New Zealand in Tuvalu

Vaiaku
Funafuti
Tuvalu

24 November 1986

Dear High Commissioner

I have the honour to refer to recent discussions between representatives of our two Government concerning arrangements to facilitate travel between our two countries and to your letter of 7 November 1986, in which you suggested that a visa agreement in the following terms be concluded between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of Tuvalu. 

[as in No. 1]

I have the honour to confirm that the foregoing is acceptable to the Government of Tuvalu which agrees that your letter together with this reply shall constitute an agreement between our two Governments on this matter.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

TOMASI PUAPUA
Prime Minister of Tuvalu