The governments of New Zealand and the United Kingdom announced a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Thursday morning, and while Prime Ministers Jacinda Ardern and Boris Johnson's conversation was mainly about exports such as meat, produce and dairy, it may also change the way people travel between the two countries.
In a statement, Ardern announced New Zealand and the UK have committed to a "mobility dialogue" outside of the FTA that will consider how people-to-people links can be deepened even further.
This will include working expeditiously to extend and improve the existing New Zealand-UK Working Holiday/Youth Mobility scheme. Work on this will begin immediately, the statement said.
"These schemes create opportunities for young New Zealanders to develop their skills and work experience while travelling and living in the UK and vice versa," Ardern said.
"For many young New Zealanders an overseas experience has become a rite of passage, providing a pathway to develop their skills and work experience while travelling and living in the United Kingdom.
"It is fantastic that we will now work to build on what has been a long tradition between our two countries. We look forward to receiving those from the United Kingdom and providing them the same opportunities on our side of the world," she said.
Travel to New Zealand from the United Kingdom is currently restricted to those who can secure spots in Aotearoa's MIQ system.
