New Zealand Employment Court Confirms That Fees Charged for New Zealand Jobs Can Be Illegal Even When Paid Overseas

What changed

The French Court of Cassation issued a significant judgment on 3 July 2026, mandating the recognition of parentage for children born abroad via surrogacy (GPA) in France. This decision applies when a foreign court ruling, designating intended parents, presents guarantees compliant with international public policy. It overrides prior interpretations that would have limited such recognition to the effects of an adoption, ensuring that established filiations are acknowledged as such in France. This clarification aims to uphold the child's best interests, even though surrogacy remains prohibited domestically.

What changed

The New Zealand Government has announced that Border Processing Levy rates for cruise ship passengers will be reduced, coming into effect on 1 July 2027. This change means cruise passengers will see a net reduction of NZ$19.91 per person, which comes from a combination of adjustments to both arrival and departure levies. At the same time, air travellers will face a small overall increase of 32 cents per passenger. These changes aim to ensure that Customs continues to recover its costs for border processing while adapting to expected passenger volumes.

What changed

New Zealand's Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden, announced that an in-person citizenship test will be introduced as part of the citizenship by grant process from late 2027. Aspeq Limited has been appointed to design and deliver this new test. This initiative is designed to ensure that applicants seeking citizenship possess a sufficient understanding of their responsibilities and privileges as citizens of New Zealand, thereby strengthening the meaning of citizenship. The test will cover concepts such as freedom of speech and the principle of equality before the law.

What changed

Immigration New Zealand has put a new mixed selection system in place for the Parent Resident Visa category, starting from 5 October 2026. This change means all valid Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are now in a single group. About 90% will be chosen from this group in the order they were submitted, like a queue, and the other 10% will be picked randomly. The yearly limit of 2,500 visa approvals remains the same, and the first selection under this new system is planned for 10 November 2026.