E2.85 Sporting contacts with Fiji (29/11/2010)

1. Immigration officers must not grant a temporary entry class visa or entry permission to sportspeople representing Fiji or Fijian national and/or Fijian club teams at all levels, who are applying to enter New Zealand temporarily for the purpose of such representation, or to transit New Zealand on their way to or from a third country where they are travelling for the purpose of sporting contacts.
2. Despite (a) above, Fijian sportspeople representing Fiji or Fijian national and/or Fijian club teams participating in regional or international sporting tournaments hosted by New Zealand may be granted a temporary entry class visa and entry permission, if:
   1. participation in the international sporting tournament requires travel to New Zealand; and
   2. the New Zealand host sporting body does not have control over the selection of participants.
3. Despite (a) above, Fijian sportspeople who are coming to New Zealand as individuals and do not represent Fiji or a Fijian national or club team, may be granted a temporary entry class visa and entry permission if that person is a professional sportsperson working as an individual.
4. For the purpose of E2.85 ‘sportspeople’ includes players (either competing or training), sports administrators, coaches and other personnel associated with nationally representative and non-representative sports teams.

Effective 29/11/2010