Dr Oliver Hartwich: The New Mandarinate

In November 2018, officials at Immigration New Zealand began work on replacing the ageing biometric systems that verify identities and manage immigration risk. Seven years later it was dead, having delivered no measurable benefit. Nobody can yet say what it cost.

Matua Kahurangi: Refugee offenders exposed

The devastating toll of Immigration NZ’s failures

In recent decades, New Zealand has opened its doors to thousands of people under humanitarian grounds. Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants have been granted entry on the premise of fleeing persecution and seeking safety. That kindness has not always been repaid.

Chris Lynch: Gang members to be stopped at border ahead of Canterbury event

The Government is taking action in response to overseas members of the Mongols gang attempting to enter New Zealand for an organised event in Canterbury from November 7-10.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell said, “The Immigration Minister and I are working closely together, alongside Police, Customs and Immigration New Zealand (INZ), to respond to an organised Mongols event in Canterbury.”

DTNZ: Free Speech Union calls on Immigration NZ to allow Candace Owens’ visit

The Free Speech Union (FSU) has urged Immigration New Zealand not to follow Australia’s decision to deny entry to American commentator Candace Owens.

FSU Council Member Dane Giraud criticised Australia’s move, labelling it a “foolish choice” likely to increase attention on Owens and her controversial views.

Professor John Raine: International Education – Not just a Question of Re-opening the Border

The 20^th March NZ Herald article, “Hundreds of International students affected by visa delays”, does not reassure us that specialist capacity issues in Immigration New Zealand have been addressed. These were well known at least two years ago as international student business was re-opening.

Covid-19 lockdowns and the border closure caused massive destruction to our tourism and hospitality industries, but also widespread damage to many other industries, notably international education.

Kerre Woodham: What is happening with NZ immigration?

Now, what on Earth is going on within immigration New Zealand? Ever since the days of the late, unlamented Iain Lees-Galloway, the department has been struggling.

A pause was placed on the processing of grandparents' visas, that was before Covid. Migrant workers are still being exploited by unscrupulous employers, despite a number of reviews under former Immigration Ministers.

Lushington D. Brady: Meta Busted for Scamming and Spying

Late last year, this little snippet passed almost unnoticed in the NZ media:

Barry Soper: No-one wants to see a repeat of the dawn raids 50 years on

If someone overstays their visa then the authorities have a right to talk to the offenders to at least establish why.  Every country in the world does it but it's the way it's done that's the issue.

No-one in this country wants to see a repeat of what went on in this country 50 years ago, cops bashing down doors and dragging the offenders away from their screaming children.

Kate Hawkesby: We're still too complacent when it comes to fixing the tourism sector

 

My daughter’s in Queenstown with a friend and her family at the moment, and she's been snapchatting me pictures of all the shop and cafe windows, with all the 'STAFF WANTED' signs everywhere. 

I haven't forgotten about the plight of Queenstown, because we still hear regularly from many business owners down there, still exasperated. 

And many of the visitors who return from there have tales to tell. All the same tale sadly. 

Cam Slater: Leaked: Police Begging Interpol for Intel on Avi Yemini

Leaked emails show NZ Police wanted to ban Avi Yemini and desperately sought intel from Interpol to support their desire

Last week Australian journalist Avi Yemini was prevented by Immigration NZ from entering New Zealand. Media at the time suggested that the decision was made by Immigration NZ, but an investigation by The BFD suggests that it was in fact the NZ Police who were acting to stop both Avi Yemini and Rukshan Fernando from entering New Zealand and covering the protest at parliament in Wellington.

There is an interesting timeline in play here. An article appeared in the NZ Herald on 20 August that sought to smear the two journalists. The article was unattributed to any journalist. In that article they stated: