6. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National—Rodney) Link to this
to the Minister of Immigration
Does he have confidence in the decision making of Immigration New Zealand offices around the world; if so, why?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Associate Minister of Immigration) Link to this
Yes, but as with any large organisation there is always room for improvement.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Is he satisfied that a father of two foreign fee-paying secondary school students in New Zealand should be issued with a work permit through the Immigration New Zealand office in Korea, having been declined such a work permit on two occasions by the Immigration New Zealand office in Auckland; if so, why?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
Every application is treated on its merits. For instance, people who cannot obtain a permit in New Zealand may then obtain a visa offshore, if their circumstances have changed. People can make further applications, and if their circumstances have changed, then those applications will be treated individually. The member will know, of course, that I am not permitted to speak about individual cases. If he has evidence that he can provide to me, I am quite happy to investigate it.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why would a father of two foreign fee-paying secondary school students be granted a work permit through the Immigration New Zealand office in Korea that states he could work for “any employer” in “any position”, when the manager of international students at the secondary school involved was told by the Immigration New Zealand office in Auckland that the man “did not qualify in any way, and would definitely not be getting a work permit”?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
As I have just told the member, he will be aware that I am not permitted to speak about individual cases. Each case is treated on a case by case basis in respect of individual circumstances. I invite the member to bring to my attention any information he has, and I will have the matter investigated.
Steve ChadwickHon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
In April this year the Government launched the discussion document on the review of the Immigration Act. The review is part of a wider programme that will lead, firstly, to a new legislative foundation; secondly, a new policy framework; and, thirdly, a new integrated service delivery model.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why would he blame the recipient of such a work permit, who incidentally cannot speak a word of English, for being part of a scam, when both the Immigration New Zealand operations manual and its website have made it very clear that, since the special guardian visa was introduced, variations to those temporary visas—such as the granting of a work permit—had to comply with work visa and permit policy provisions in New Zealand?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
I apologise for being shrill. As I have said to the member, every application is determined on a case by case basis, according to individual circumstances. If he has information of wrongdoing or potential wrongdoing, I am quite happy, if he gives it to me, to have it investigated.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Is he concerned that the mother of three foreign fee-paying students should have gained a residence permit through the London office of Immigration New Zealand, when the woman was previously in New Zealand on a guardian visa, has now returned to Nigeria to join her husband, and has no intention of living in New Zealand, yet through the granting of the residence visa by the London office now has three children qualifying as domestic students in New Zealand?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
For the benefit of the member, again I say that if he has information of wrongdoing and he gives it to me, I will have it investigated. Every case is treated on its merits, on a case by case basis. If the member delivers to me the information, I will have it investigated.
Peter BrownDoes the Minister acknowledge that there are several flaws both in our immigration legislation and in our systems, and will he acknowledge also that the agreement for a review, which was negotiated between New Zealand First and the Labour Government, will address many, if not all, of these flaws?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
I acknowledge both those points. That is why, as I said to the honourable member previously, we have announced a review and a discussion document. The review is part of a wider programme that will lead to a new legislative foundation, a new policy framework, and a new integrated service delivery model. I acknowledge the member’s two points. Of course we can do better, and that is why we are having a review of the Act.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why did he state on Tuesday this week that he had seen no evidence that applications that had been declined in New Zealand had been granted offshore, when his department was advised some time ago that a person whom the Auckland office had said would definitely not get a work permit had attained a permit through the Korean office to work for “any employer” in “any position”—or does his department not trust him with that kind of information?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
I will not repeat the answer about the individual case; the member, I think, by now is aware of that. It is possible for people who have been declined work permits in New Zealand to gain them when they reapply offshore, if their individual circumstances have changed, because all cases are treated on their individual merits. If the member has evidence of wrongdoing, he can give it to me and I will investigate it.