Yes, in most cases. Transit is the requirement travellers overlook, because in many countries changing planes needs nothing at all. New Zealand is not one of them: most passengers transiting through Auckland International Airport need an NZeTA.
Why this catches people out
- You are not entering the country, so it does not feel like it should need permission
- The requirement is checked at your departure airport, not on arrival
- Airlines refuse boarding without it — the trip ends before it starts
What to do
Request the NZeTA before you fly, the same as any other traveller: NZ$17 in the official app or NZ$23 on the Immigration New Zealand website, and allow for the 72 hours that a decision usually takes.
The levy question
The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (NZ$100) is charged with the NZeTA. Whether it applies to your particular transit is worth checking on the official page before you assume either way.
Source: Immigration New Zealand — NZeTA
If your itinerary changes and you now have a longer stopover that takes you out of the airport, you are no longer transiting — you are visiting, and the visitor conditions apply.
More on the NZeTA
What is the NZeTA
The NZeTA is a pre-travel authorisation for visa-waiver passports, not a visa. What it covers, who needs one, and what it does not do.
How to apply
Applying takes about ten minutes in the official app (NZ$17) or on the Immigration New Zealand website (NZ$23). Here is the order of the steps and what trips people up.
Cost
The NZeTA request fee is NZ$17 in the app or NZ$23 online, plus the NZ$100 IVL — about NZ$117–NZ$123 in total.
What you need
A valid passport, a photo of your face, an email address and a payment card. What the photo has to look like and what else is asked.
Processing time
Most NZeTA requests are decided in minutes, but Immigration New Zealand asks you to allow up to 72 hours. What makes an application take longer.
Validity
An NZeTA lasts 2 years from the date it is issued, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first — and allows multiple entries.