Changes to visa requirements for South African visitors to New Zealand will have a “huge effect”, says the senior immigration adviser of an immigration consultancy agency.

From November 21, all visiting South Africans will require visitor visas.

Immigration New Zealand says on its website that the changes are being made because of an increase in the number of South African nationals who do not meet New Zealand entry requirements and are being refused entry.

The website says there have also been passengers found holding counterfeit or fraudulently obtained passports.

North Shore Immigration Services senior licensed adviser Simona Woodberg says the phone started ringing as soon as the changes were announced.

Woodberg says it’s not unusual for South African migrants to resign from their jobs and sell their assets before coming to New Zealand, then look for a job on a visitor visa before getting a work visa, but that’s going to have to change.

The visitor visa application requires evidence of funds, return tickets, and genuine reasons for a visit. Immigration New Zealand could also ask for more documents on top of the initial requirements, such as information on assets, evidence of employment and qualifications, Woodberg says.

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Johannesburg – The rand plunged on Tuesday after prosecutors ordered Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan to appear in court to face fraud charges, adding to months of political uncertainty.

Stocks closed slightly higher led by a stronger gold sector benefiting from weakness in the rand.

By the close of the market, the rand weakened to its lowest in almost a month down 4% to 14.43 per dollar.

The currency fell sharply after prosecutors said Gordhan must appear in court next month over allegations he broke public finance rules by granting a colleague early retirement.

In December, President Jacob Zuma replaced the then finance minister with a politically loyal unknown, but within days appointed Gordhan after an investor backlash.

The latest political instability comes as the finance minister is expected to deliver his medium-term budget policy statement, in just over two weeks.

“A much weaker currency will add to inflationary pressures, and could force us to revaluate our view that the South African Reserve Bank’s tightening cycle has come to a close,” said Capital Economics economist John Ashbourne.

Government bonds weakened alongside the currency with the yield for the benchmark issue due in 2026 rising 23.5 basis point to 8.93%.

On the stock market, the benchmark Top-40 index rose 0.62% to 45 395 points, while the All-Share index gained 0.43% to 51 898 points.

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