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
Cruise passengers
The visa-waiver list does not apply to cruise arrivals. Every cruise passenger needs an NZeTA, including nationalities that would otherwise need a visa.
If you are declined
A declined NZeTA is not the end of the trip, but reapplying with the same details will not change the outcome. Here is what actually comes next.
Dual nationals
The NZeTA is linked to one passport, and you must travel on it. A second nationality is not a problem — showing the wrong passport at check-in is.
Children and infants
Yes. Every traveller needs an NZeTA in their own name, including infants who are travelling on a parent's lap and do not have their own seat.
Australians
Australian citizens need neither a visa nor an NZeTA for New Zealand. Australian permanent residents are different: they must hold an NZeTA before boarding.
Work and study
Arriving under the visa waiver lets you study for up to 3 months. It does not let you work. What counts as work is wider than most travellers expect.