Johnson: Don’t dream the great British OE is over

Boris Johnson says he supports easy migration between Commonwealth countries and Britain postBrexit.

‘‘There are lots of young New Zealanders who want to come to the UK for their OE and that’s a great thing – we’re trying to make sure that happens as smoothly as possible,’’ the British Foreign Secretary said.

Johnson is in New Zealand on an official visit. He was welcomed onto Takahanga Marae in Kaikoura yesterday, where he jokingly likened the hongi to a head butt.

‘‘Thank you for teaching me the hongi, which I think is a beautiful form of introduction . . . though it might be misinterpreted in a pub in Glasgow,’’ Johnson said.

‘‘I also have to say that this is the most mind-numbingly beautiful country that I have ever seen.’’

Speaking to media, Johnson said he supported easier migration between Britain and the rest of the Commonwealth post-Brexit.

He had favoured easy mobility on the past – in 2014, as London mayor, he launched a report in the British Parliament calling for a mobility zone between New Zealand and Australia and Britain.

‘‘I’m a great believer in making sure talented people, energetic people, who want to come to our country should be able to do so.

‘‘[That is] provided of course that it’s controlled and it’s done in a democratic way, just as you would insist on here at in New Zealand.’’

Johnson said he was on his first trip to New Zealand ‘‘to cement what is a really important relationship for us’’.

‘‘We are becoming more global as a United Kingdom. We’re having to strengthen our trading relations around the world and not just with our friends and partners in Europe, but with New Zealand as well.

‘‘New Zealand’s a major exporter already to the UK, we’ve got a fantastic relationship going and we want to build on that,’’ Johnson said.

Security and intelligence would also be discussed during his visit.

‘‘Frankly I just wanted to see the place, I mean, what an incredible country . . . and a chance to say thank you to the community here in Kaikoura who looked after a load of British tourists who got stranded and I think were quite reluctant to leave I understand by the end of their time,’’ Johnson said.

During the visit, the foreign secretary met with local businesses, including Whale Watch and businesses offering whale viewing flights, quad bike tours and the chance to swim with dolphins.

Johnson also visited North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery Accommodation Village for a tour, before tucking into crayfish at South Bay.

Kiwis planning their OE in Britain have had to cancel flights and have lost money on booked travel plans because of ‘‘significant’’ visa processing delays.

UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) said it aims to process applications within 15 working days and that who have paid for priority service would be fasttracked.

While in New Zealand, Johnson will meet Prime Minister Bill English, Labour leader Andrew Little and participate in a ceremony to dedicate the UK memorial at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington. He is in New Zealand until today.