Government deal will be a big win for Townsville Kiwis missing home

Talk of trans-Tasman travel has Townsville-based Kiwis ready to board a plane at the first opportunity.

Chris and Kylie Bolt are happy flights to New Zealand may be starting up. Picture: Evan Morgan

Talk of trans-Tasman travel has Townsville-based Kiwis ready to board a plane at the first opportunity.

Kylie and Chris Bolt have called Australia home for nearly two decades but border closures caused by COVID-19 have left them missing their home country more than ever.

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Mrs Bolt said missing out on her late father’s headstone unveiling had been especially hard.

“I felt alone, left out and a bit angry but more just sad that I was missing that support,” Mrs Bolt said.

“It’s something that is a cultural tradition that’s done as a way to honour them.”

According to the ABS there were 570,000 people who were born in New Zealand living in Australia in 2019.

Mrs Bolt said there was a strong Kiwi community in Townsville and estimated upwards of 15,000 lived here.

Townsville resident Rachel Morris has lived here for eight years on a special category visa that allows New Zealand citizens to live in Australia and although the visa allows entry to stay and work, it is temporary.

Sisters Taila, 10, and Ashlee Bolt, 10, are happy flights to New Zealand may be starting up. Picture: Evan Morgan

Ms Morris said she was just happy to hear the two prime ministers discussing trans-Tasman travel – following Jacinda Ardern joining yesterday’s National Cabinet meeting – given the high traffic between the countries.

“All my family are based in Queenstown and it’s been economically hit the hardest (in New Zealand),” Ms Morris said.

Originally published as Government deal will be a big win for Townsville Kiwis missing home