Hoping to get a little clarification on this upcoming ETA requirement. On the official website it states:

If you plan to visit New Zealand for a short period, you must request an NZeTA before you travel if you:

• travel on a passport from a country on the list of visa waiver countries and territories
• leave for New Zealand on or after 1 October 2019, and
• are visiting for up to 3 months — or, if you are a British citizen, up to 6 months

For US citizens it seems that we can still apply for a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa if we travel before October 1:

If you are from a visa waiver country, you do not have to apply for a visa before you travel to New Zealand provided you’re in good health and of good character. You need to show you are a genuine visitor, have enough money for your stay and a travel ticket out of New Zealand to a country you have the right to enter.

But it also states for the same visa waiver: You cannot apply for this visa before you travel to New Zealand — you apply when you get here. You must hold an NZeTA before you travel.

So say I'm leaving tomorrow - do I still need an NZeTA for the Visa Waiver Visitor Visa? Because it's not October 1 yet and the website seems to imply it's already required. And it seems the IVL is already in effect - so how would I pay for that fee if I don't apply for the ETA? Our whole family is going so it does add up to a little bit if we all get the ETA (with mandatory IVL). Adding to the confusion it says we need an ETA if we leave for New Zealand on or after October 1 and we leave on an overnight flight on September 30

Thanks in advance for any input / help with this confusing issue!