The Government's copping flak over the long wait time for visitor visas at the border.

Figures released to Newshub indicate that of the more than 61-thousand visitors who have applied for visas since August 1, just over 26-thousand have been approved and 515 declined.

It means nearly 35-thousand tourists are waiting weeks in the queue.

Tourism Export Council Chief Executive Lynda Keene says it's frustrating.

She says it's been poor planning from the Government to not resource Immigration New Zealand with the right level of people and technology.

Keene says Immigration New Zealand previously said half of all visitor visas would be prossessed in five days but that's now been pushed to 20 days.

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