Chris Hipkins hails ‘biggest in a generation’ citizenship reforms for New Zealanders in Australia

Prime minister welcomes move to let New Zealanders apply for Australian citizenship without becoming permanent residents first

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A “historic” agreement allowing New Zealanders a faster pathway to Australian citizenship is the biggest change “in a generation” and will help the two countries forge even closer ties, the New Zealand prime minister, Chris Hipkins, has said.

Hipkins visited Australia on Sunday for talks with the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, after the decision to give New Zealanders the right to apply for Australian citizenship without becoming permanent residents first.

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