Departure cards binned

Yesterday was the first day travellers leaving New Zealand did not have to fill out departure cards. The often-maligned document is being scrapped. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern first signalled the move in March at the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum in Sydney. Delegates there said the cards were not necessary and hampered a seamless transTasman experience, which affected tourism and business. The cards were introduced in 1921. Nowadays, the cards were mainly used by Statistics NZ to collect tourism and migration details. It is now switching to a new data system. Those hoping for an end to arrival cards have a longer wait.