Latest news with #ImmigrationNZ
NZ Herald
09-08-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
NZ receives 1500 refugees each year but Hawke's Bay doesn't settle any. Why?
The closest settlement locations are Palmerston North and Masterton, and the newest locations to welcome refugee families include Blenheim, Timaru, Ashburton, Levin and Masterton. 'Quota refugees are settled in locations throughout New Zealand based on community links and access to services to help support their settlement and employment opportunities,' an Immigration NZ spokeswoman said. 'We work with refugees to ensure that their allocated settlement region is one that meets their needs and has the capacity to support them. 'New Zealand has a long and proud history of helping people whose lives are at risk and are forced to flee their country.' Multicultural Association Hawke's Bay president Rizwaana Latiff said multiple Afghan and Iraqi refugees now live in the region, particularly around Napier, and refugees were free to move here once they had been settled in other locations like Palmerston North. She said while it would be great to see refugees sent to Hawke's Bay directly to live, the reality was support, funding and volunteers had to be in place first. 'At the moment, I would love us to be a resettlement spot, but we can't just say we want to when we don't have the resources to be able to welcome them.' She said refugees need assistance with housing, language learning, finding jobs, transport, navigating where and how to access services, and on top of that they 'have an added layer in that they have been traumatised'. 'If I had a magic wand, that is what I would love to do, welcome them,' she said. 'These refugees have lived for years in shacks. 'To even have a one-bedroom house would be ideal for them if they had power and running water and food. 'But we also need to look at the flipside of the reality of what is happening in Hawke's Bay.' She said Hawke's Bay has a big housing shortage and things like jobs all needed to be taken into account. She said one thing people can do to help prepare the region to potentially become a settlement location in future was volunteer, and support the migrant population. She said there was a shortage of volunteers in Hawke's Bay for things like teaching English or helping migrants learn to drive. 'A lot of people don't realise the value that migrants bring, not just economically but culturally as well,' Latiff, who is running for Hastings District Council, said. 'It brings the world to us. It helps our children grow up with open minds.' New Zealand's quota of 1500 people will be reviewed again in 2028. If you would like to volunteer email president@ Gary Hamilton-Irvine is a Hawke's Bay-based reporter who covers a range of news topics including business, councils, breaking news and cyclone recovery. He formerly worked at News Corp Australia.
NZ Herald
26-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Deportation threat: 7-year-old Joshua Meets' fight to stay in New Zealand
The thought of having to leave everything they've built keeps them going in their years-long fight. 'This turned me into a world-class hurdler because I'm just jumping from one hoop to another,' she said. 'It's not a Kiwi thing to do. It's such an accepting society, but then we get pushed to the side for having a kid with special needs.' Joshua Meets had his visa denied by Immigration NZ because of his rare form of epilepsy. 'This is home and this is life' The Meets family had contributed to vital gaps in the workforce and community in the years they had been on Kiwi soil, Ingrid Meets said. She is a commerce and social studies teacher at Mahurangi College, and her husband is an apprentice builder. If Joshua were to return to South Africa, it would significantly harm his well-being and his quality of education, she said. 'New Zealand just means freedom for my family. 'It just gives us all a new life, the boys can excell and they won't be discriminated against. We are safe.' Her three boys, Matthew, Joshua, and Daniel, have lived in New Zealand longer than they lived in South Africa. 'They've got no connection to South Africa. 'Although we are a South African family and we still speak Afrikaans, they started schooling here, and they have their friends here. 'This is home and this is life for them.' Meets said she never imagined that she would have to become an advocate. 'When the system remains silent, I can't stay quiet. 'I am Joshua's voice, but also a voice for all the other families facing this bureaucratic nightmare.' A Givealittle page and a petition have been set up to aid the family in their fight. The fight against deportation Joshua's family kicked off their time in New Zealand after they were all given three-year visas to enter the country in 2020 without any issues. They said they did not know the severity of their son's condition on their arrival. He was just 2 when they were granted visas, and he was seizure-free after being weaned off his seizure medication. After two years in New Zealand, he was diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. In 2022, the family applied for the 2021 Resident Visa, a pathway to residence for certain temporary visa holders affected by Covid-19 and border closures. Meets said Immigration New Zealand deemed Joshua was not of an acceptable standard of health and was not eligible for a waiver. After multiple letters of concern, the residence visa application was officially declined. In March 2024, they appealed to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, which weighed up the case and found there were special circumstances that favoured the family staying. The case was sent to the Minister for Immigration to make the final decision, but Associate Minister Chris Penk declined their appeal. Erica Stanford, the Minister of Immigration, also declined the appeal. Since then, the rest of Joshua's family have been given valid visas that will allow them to stay in New Zealand until 2029. Joshua's application for a new visa was declined, and his current one expired this month, so now his family must make a final appeal on humanitarian grounds. This decision will be made by the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, rather than the minister, Meets said. Joshua Meet's student visa application was declined after law changes. What can they do? Meets said they were well within their rights to appeal the deportation decision on humanitarian grounds. 'We have handed in our appeal document, and we've got 42 days to complete, get proof and get support letters and build a case that we can now present.' The appeal goes to the Immigration Protection Tribunal – now the family's second round of dealing with it. 'We had such a good outcome the first time, and they said that our case definitely held merit and special circumstances, and even with that then we still got the decline.' She said that with this appeal, the tribunal would make the final decision, and it did not need to be referred back to a minister, which might improve their chances. Joshua Meets has a complex seizure disorder, developmental delay and is non-verbal, so he attends a special school. 'I understand that immigration is a policy,' Meets said. 'But I think there should be a more humane or humanitarian side to it. You can't judge people just on a tick-box system. 'Let's say it was an easy ride for us and we get residency, and myself or one of the boys gets in an accident and then they need special schooling. They won't be seen as a burden on the system. 'It's just a timing issue. The Government knows what they're going to expect with Joshua. So why is he being called a burden on the system? 'If they accept me to come for a very important role in being a teacher and being able to be good enough to teach Kiwi kids, then my kids should also be accepted in society just like any other normal kid,' Meets said. Joshua Meets had his visa denied by Immigration New Zealand due to his rare form of epilepsy. Photo / Supplied The family's life has been put on pause as they wait for a final decision. 'Once you lodge the appeal, it takes quite a while. 'That appeal might take another six to nine months for the final decision. But it does mean that we live on a very high nervous system during that time because it just feels like there's no finality. 'We can't save money for a house deposit. We can't plan for our future.' Acceptable Standard of Health policy The Meets family are urgently calling for an exemption to New Zealand's Acceptable Standard of Health (Ash) policy, which they deem to be discriminatory. 'We call for the end of the discriminatory Ash policy, which unfairly penalises migrants and refugees with disabilities or medical conditions and their families, breaching New Zealand's international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD),' the family said on their petition. Stanford said the Government strengthened the health requirements for dependent children of people on temporary visas to ensure more consistency in the immigration system from March this year. 'In recent years, a spike in enrolments of children of temporary migrants in our schools has resulted in an increase in children from this cohort with very high learning needs,' Stanford said. 'This has put significant strain on an already oversubscribed learning support system, preventing other children from getting the support they need.' Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
17-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
ProCare Welcomes Fast-Tracked Registration For Overseas Doctors
ProCare welcomes the Medical Council's decision to recognise overseas-trained doctors from Chile, Croatia, and Luxembourg as part of the 'Comparable Health System pathway'. Alongside the fast-track registration for GPs from the USA, Canada, and Singapore, this will deliver a much-needed boost to general practices across Aotearoa who are facing a significant GP shortage. The decision means ProCare will be better placed to support its primary care network to recruit offshore GPs; further helping to ease workforce pressure and improve access to care for communities. Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare, says the organisation is ready to support practices to take full advantage of the change. 'We know our practices are under pressure and this change gives us a practical way to bring in skilled clinicians faster,' says Norwell. Under the changes, GPs from the United States, Canada and Singapore will have their registration applications processed within two months, while specialists from countries such as the UK, Ireland and Australia will benefit from a fast-tracked 20-day assessment process. Japan and South Korea were added to the list in February 2025. 'At ProCare, we are deeply committed to investing in the primary care workforce. We've long advocated for practical solutions that support our network and improve health outcomes for our communities. This announcement aligns with that vision.' Earlier this month, ProCare became an Immigration NZ Accredited Employer, allowing it to directly support practices with international recruitment and immigration processes. 'We're actively investing in solutions for primary care that make a difference,' says Norwell. 'Our investment includes tailored support for general practice teams, leadership development, and tools to improve retention and resilience. We're committed to building a strong, sustainable workforce that delivers better health outcomes for all New Zealanders.' ProCare will continue working closely with its network and partners to ensure overseas-trained doctors are welcomed, supported, and integrated into the communities where they're needed most. About ProCare ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand's largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to more than 830,000 people across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau.
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Parent Resident Visa review advanced after shortcomings recognised
Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi Immigration Minister Erica Stanford has ordered a review of the parent resident allocation system to be brought forward after acknowledging shortcomings related to the existing ballot system. A spokesperson from Stanford's office said the minister had heard concerns from the community regarding the current system. "[The minister] appreciates the ballot system does not provide any certainty or clarity for when people might be invited to apply, once they have registered an expression of interest," the spokesperson said. "She has asked immigration officials to bring forward work on reviewing the parent resident allocation system. "That work will commence later this year with officials expected to report back in early 2026." The spokesperson said the review had originally been planned to start in 2026. To apply for the parent resident visa, applicants must submit an expression of interest until the application is selected by Immigration New Zealand and processed. The selection process was suspended in 2016 pending a review of visa settings. After the review had been completed in 2019, Cabinet agreed to tighten the visa settings and resume the selection process from May 2020, but it didn't happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the selection process was reinstated in 2022, a new annual cap was introduced at 2500, down from the 2016 cap of 5500. Under the reduced cap, 2000 visas were given to applicants in a queue with an existing expression of interest, while a further 500 visas could be granted from a ballot that was introduced for new expressions of interest submitted from October 2022 until the existing queue had been cleared. On 1 July, Immigration New Zealand said it was dropping its reference to 2000 visas being set aside for the queue because the backlog had nearly been cleared. Migrants told RNZ the ballot system had left them in limbo , as the chance for their parents' expression of interest to get selected was slim. A petition to change the visa settings has collected more than 10,000 signatures . Sophie Liu, who started the petition, wanted officials to start the review sooner. Liu said the current ballot system lacked fairness. "There is a lack of fairness as it's not on a 'first come, first served' basis," Liu said. "For example, if you're visiting a hospital, they won't tell you to go into a lucky draw ... and provide service to those who have better luck." Liu said the government should also consider waiving the fees for those who need to re-submit their expression of interest and restore the cap to 5500.
Scoop
08-07-2025
- Scoop
Immigration NZ Confirms Fraud In Samoa: Staff Bribed To Help Samoan Nationals Obtain Visas
Second Samoan national sentenced to six months home detention in New Zealand migrant exploitation case. Was it a case of corruption? ''Yes'', an INZ spokesperson said. INZ found immigration workers in Samoa engaged in ''internal fraud''. Immigration NZ (INZ) says immigration workers in Samoa helped an individual obtain visas fraudulently between 2014 and 2021. INZ general manager of immigration investigations and compliance Steve Watson told RNZ Pacific that they were brought to New Zealand "with a whole lot of fraud going on back in Samoa that we've addressed". The revelation follows this week's sentencing of a Samoan national for their role in aiding other Samoans to work in New Zealand illegally between 2016 and 2021. They were a paid "associate" of the primary offender, who was sentenced back in April for running a service setting Samoans up with fake working visas. The associate was sentenced to six months' home detention, while the primary offender was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and ordered to pay NZ$4000 in reparations. RNZ reported at the time that the two individuals employed Samoan nationals unlawfully in New Zealand and supported others to breach their visa conditions. INZ's acting general manager of immigration compliance & investigation Michael Carley said workers were lured to New Zealand under the offer to make money they can send to their families in Samoa. "The individual would then either directly or indirectly, through extended family or friends, sponsor a worker's visitor visa and manage the process of applying for visas through Immigration New Zealand. Even paying for related visa fees and airfares." Once in New Zealand, they were often employed for more than 40 hours a week and paid a daily rate of $100, below the adult minimum wage. A case of corruption Immigration workers helped the offender obtain paperwork or win favourable treatment, in exchange for bribes, INZ's Steve Watson explained. "Back in Samoa this person took advantage of a contact they they were able to fraudulently obtain visas for these people," Watson said. "It wasn't a significant amount [of visas] because we were quickly able to identify the gap, and we've made a number of changes to our security procedures in the office some time ago now, but it was quickly identified and these persons were arrested and charged." When RNZ Pacific asked whether this was a case of corruption, Watson said it was. "It was a case of internal fraud which we very quicky discovered, and the matter was resolved through an employment issue." Watson said this was a one-off incident and the offenders are not tied to any wider networks. "This is not very common, and we take this very very seriously when it comes to our attention," Watson said. "The fact that it was able to be discovered is actually a sign that the immigration system and the compliance and investigations aspect of it is working." He said no recognised seasonal employers were involved in this case.
