Just got my new uk passport
I'm so impressed, only took 17 days from whoa to go
Well apart from the four years that it has taken me to renew it.
What a relief. I hadn't realised that it bothered me not having a passport in NZ until I got one in my hot little hands.
Of course I still can't go anywhere (well...I can go and not come back)
I wonder how long it will take me to get the stickers stuck in???

Out of interest, how much was the UK passport renewal?

$349.
I was moaning, but with a fast turn around like that, what's to complain about

My wife works for the DIA in London issuing passports and the Kiwis moan about the price of renewing their passport here!!

For a comparible price a Kiwi can get their NZ passport processed while you wait in at NZ House in London.

This is why I got mine done now just in case. Lost a year but if we go it will be worth the reduction in hassle.

$35 a year. Bargain

Tiz a good fast service too.

Considering all the High Commission does is post your form back to the UK for processing, it really isn't that good a service.
I sent my form to the UK and had the new passport sent to a friends address in the UK. They then sent it on to me here in NZ. I got it renewed in 12 days for GBP72.50. (thats less than $150NZD)

Not sure why people have this misconception. What would be the point in just forwarding it on to the UK? The processing of the passport application is still done in Wellington. The only change has been that the passports are now printed and dispatched from the UK as it was considered too expensive, inefficient and a security risk to install printers for the new generation of biometric passports in Embassies all over the world.

However when the Passport Section in Wellington closes in March 2014, you'll be applying directly to the passport office in Liverpool. From that point you should (supposedly) be paying the UK renewal price + the courier fees to return to you whenever you are in the world.

There is no misconception when it comes to the cost.

I figured that I had to apply here if I lived here? It's not much more than an NZ one anyway. That is $150 for 5 years.
I don't think that I'd have it sent to friends. The less hands it passes through before me, the better

If this is so easy to do, why dont more people do it?!

Yeah, when I was living in London I use to send my application for a kiwi passport to NZ and had it sent to my parents. They then brought it over on their next visit. Worked well and was a lot cheaper than getting it done in London.

can I ask is it still 10 years or has it changed to 5 years I heard a rumor this was the case

10 years for adult passport, 5 for a child's. was told it could take up to 4 weeks for my passport but getting it next week. Then I can start the recruitment process

I am in the same sitaution of having just had my UK passport renewed

Can you get the visa stickers entered at the Immigration office there and then in person? Or do you have to send the passport off and wait a bit?

Hope it doesnt take long as i have a trip booked in 5 weeks - will head to the Welly office tomorrow. $105 for a change of sticker is a ripp off!