New Zealand protested Australia tax treaty change

New Zealand officials privately criticised Australia over what they called a unilateral breach of a tax treaty after changes exposed non-resident New Zealanders buying property in Australia to additional taxes, documents obtained by AFP show.

In a briefing to ministers, New Zealand officials said Australia's decision to override treaty obligations without consultation or negotiations was "in poor form and was certainly not cricket". The documents show officials were urged to "fight this much harder".

Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Finance Minister Nicola Willis wrote in April to their Australian counterparts, saying the taxes were inconsistent with Australia's treaty commitments to New Zealand.

Australia's Department of the Treasury told AFP that it continued to engage closely with New Zealand counterparts on the issue as part of the current renegotiation of the tax treaty.