New welcome mat is put out for Ukrainians but Hipkins pulls rug from under NZ First (and crystalises stance on race)
It has been an easy two days for Point of Order’s monitors of ministerial accomplishments, misjudgements, embarrassments and what-have-you. Just two ministers, Immigration Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta, jointly have produced one press statement.
They announced “a new residence pathway” for Special Ukraine Visa holders, to support Ukrainians who have fled the illegal war in that country.
The residence pathway will be available to Special Ukraine Visa holders where the principal applicant was granted a Special Ukraine Visa and travelled to New Zealand before 15 March 2024.
The Special Ukraine Visa first opened for applications for 12 months from 15 March 2022, as part of the Government’s response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. It was later extended another 12 months to 15 March 2024.
The visa allows Ukrainians with close relatives who are New Zealand citizens or residents, to come to New Zealand to shelter for two years.
At first blush, this seems to suggest our government is confident the war will be all over by then and that Russia will be defeated.
The Special Ukraine Visa will close to Expressions of Interest from new applicants after 15 March 2024.
Special Ukraine Visa holders who are in New Zealand can continue to apply for subsequent temporary visas under the existing policy, as long as they wish to shelter here, or await the outcome of their residence application, Andrew Little said.
As at 20 August 2023, around 1,510 Special Ukraine Visas have been granted since the special category was created. Around 340 special category visa holders are in New Zealand.
Around 720 people have travelled to New Zealand on this visa, but this includes people who have left New Zealand, and re-entered, on one or several occasions.
Around 340 special category visa holders are in in New Zealand. A number of special category visa holders are yet to arrive in New Zealand, and some have arrived but subsequently left or moved to other visas.
Application information for the residence category will be published by MBIE before Christmas.
The release of just one press statement since Point of Order last reported on the 'Buzz from the Beehive' does not means the hive’s inhabitants have gone quiet.
A great deal of buzz was generated by Labour leader Chris Hipkins when he ruled out New Zealand First as a possible coalition partner after this year’s election, saying Winston Peters and his party would cause “instability and chaos”.
RNZ yesterday reported Labour leader Chris Hipkins confirmed the decision at a media conference.
“New Zealand First has become a party more interested in toilets than the issues that matter most to New Zealanders,” said Hipkins.
Labour could work with the Green Party and with Te Pāti Māori, Hipkins said.
The RNZ report included a link to a video recording of the announcement.
But this was a political party announcement rather than a ministerial one, which explains why it is not recorded as an official government announcement.
Readers keen to read a copy of the full speech can find it on the Scoop website (here) along with a copy of NZ First leader Winston Peters’ rejoinder (here).
Peters said:
It seems that Mr Hipkins is in some sort of time warp. He has taken over a year and a half to finally read my speeches back to me – via a press conference with the media.
He’s announcing something that everybody already knows, which is that New Zealand First has already ruled out going into any form of government with Labour – because of their racist separatist policies.
Peters contended the reason for Hipkins statement
… is all about the latest polls, including Labour’s own internal poll yesterday, that shows their vote is nose diving.
And one of the reasons is not only because of their abysmal incompetent performance on their own since 2020, but because they have abandoned the workers of New Zealand, they have preferred pandering to the woke, and they have pursued policies of preference based on race.
Hipkins’ readiness to get into bed with the Maori Party and the Greens probably has done voters a big favour. Those of them who bridle at Labour’s promotion of “policies of preference based on race” (as Peters put it) will have a clear idea of who not to vote for.
The residence pathway will be available to Special Ukraine Visa holders where the principal applicant was granted a Special Ukraine Visa and travelled to New Zealand before 15 March 2024.
The Special Ukraine Visa first opened for applications for 12 months from 15 March 2022, as part of the Government’s response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. It was later extended another 12 months to 15 March 2024.
The visa allows Ukrainians with close relatives who are New Zealand citizens or residents, to come to New Zealand to shelter for two years.
At first blush, this seems to suggest our government is confident the war will be all over by then and that Russia will be defeated.
The Special Ukraine Visa will close to Expressions of Interest from new applicants after 15 March 2024.
Special Ukraine Visa holders who are in New Zealand can continue to apply for subsequent temporary visas under the existing policy, as long as they wish to shelter here, or await the outcome of their residence application, Andrew Little said.
As at 20 August 2023, around 1,510 Special Ukraine Visas have been granted since the special category was created. Around 340 special category visa holders are in New Zealand.
Around 720 people have travelled to New Zealand on this visa, but this includes people who have left New Zealand, and re-entered, on one or several occasions.
Around 340 special category visa holders are in in New Zealand. A number of special category visa holders are yet to arrive in New Zealand, and some have arrived but subsequently left or moved to other visas.
Application information for the residence category will be published by MBIE before Christmas.
The release of just one press statement since Point of Order last reported on the 'Buzz from the Beehive' does not means the hive’s inhabitants have gone quiet.
A great deal of buzz was generated by Labour leader Chris Hipkins when he ruled out New Zealand First as a possible coalition partner after this year’s election, saying Winston Peters and his party would cause “instability and chaos”.
RNZ yesterday reported Labour leader Chris Hipkins confirmed the decision at a media conference.
“New Zealand First has become a party more interested in toilets than the issues that matter most to New Zealanders,” said Hipkins.
Labour could work with the Green Party and with Te Pāti Māori, Hipkins said.
The RNZ report included a link to a video recording of the announcement.
But this was a political party announcement rather than a ministerial one, which explains why it is not recorded as an official government announcement.
Readers keen to read a copy of the full speech can find it on the Scoop website (here) along with a copy of NZ First leader Winston Peters’ rejoinder (here).
Peters said:
It seems that Mr Hipkins is in some sort of time warp. He has taken over a year and a half to finally read my speeches back to me – via a press conference with the media.
He’s announcing something that everybody already knows, which is that New Zealand First has already ruled out going into any form of government with Labour – because of their racist separatist policies.
Peters contended the reason for Hipkins statement
… is all about the latest polls, including Labour’s own internal poll yesterday, that shows their vote is nose diving.
And one of the reasons is not only because of their abysmal incompetent performance on their own since 2020, but because they have abandoned the workers of New Zealand, they have preferred pandering to the woke, and they have pursued policies of preference based on race.
Hipkins’ readiness to get into bed with the Maori Party and the Greens probably has done voters a big favour. Those of them who bridle at Labour’s promotion of “policies of preference based on race” (as Peters put it) will have a clear idea of who not to vote for.
Latest from the Beehive
26 AUGUST 2023
The Government continues to support those who have fled the illegal war in Ukraine with the announcement of a new residence pathway for Special Ukraine Visa holders.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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