Calls for compassionate immigration reform, fairer pathways for NZ's Pacific families

An Auckland immigration consultant is urging the Government to adopt more compassionate policies and establish legal pathways for long-term Pacific residents in New Zealand.

The plea comes after the successful first reading of proposed changes to the immigration system, which aims to protect vulnerable migrants.

Koli Vanisi, the Director of Pacific Immigration Consultancy and Services in One Tree Hill, warns that the current immigration system still lacks fairness for many Pacific families who have lived in Aotearoa for years.

Vanisi helps families navigate complex immigration pathways, including one family that recently gained residency after living unlawfully in New Zealand for 28 years.

He also assisted a couple who arrived on visitor visas and faced a health crisis.

“The couple came here to New Zealand to visit their children on a visitor visa,” he says. “Suddenly, the mother was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure, where immediate dialysis treatment is required.

“So there was no way for them to have any pathway to residency in New Zealand. Luckily, we finally got it.”

For many of his clients, the outcome is life-changing.

“I can see the tears of happiness. They had no other choice. They thought they would be unlawful forever. Having a chance to stay here permanently really made a big difference in their lives.”

The shadow of the Dawn Raids remains for Pacific communities, enhanced by the difficulties in obtaining a visitor visa or residency in NZ. Photo/File

The Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Bill is currently before Parliament. It includes stronger rules to combat migrant exploitation, new safeguards for refugees and those seeking protection, and tougher consequences for residents who commit crimes.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says the changes will help “future-proof the immigration system, and better balance the integrity of the immigration system with the rights of individuals.”

Another key change requires a judicial warrant before conducting out-of-hours immigration compliance checks.

Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni welcomes the development, as she discovered in 2023 that such practices were still occurring.

“Off the back of the Dawn Raids apology, it was completely inappropriate,” she tells Ala Vailala on Pacific Mornings.

Watch Carmel Sepuloni's full interview below.

“There is now a change in legislation in front of us that would require a judge to give a warrant before Immigration New Zealand can turn up to someone’s home as part of a compliance activity.”

Former National MP Anae Arthur Anae has a more critical view of the changes.

Anae also argues for a simpler system.

“A lot of this other stuff is just window dressing to try and satisfy us,” tells Vailala. “They shouldn’t be treating us as they did back in the Dawn Raids of the 70s.

“Overstaying has been created by Immigration New Zealand. Why? Because if you make it difficult for people to come, they’re going to stay as long as they can - there’s no guarantee they can come back tomorrow.

“Allow us to arrive into New Zealand and issue us a three-month visitor visa, as they do for 60 other countries in the world.”

Watch Anae Arthur Anae's full interview below.

A case for compassion

Vanisi believes that citizenship by birthright should be reinstated, and more support provided to people already integrated into their communities. He warns against taking immigration advice from well-meaning friends or family, sharing an experience of a family who learned this lesson the hard way.

“There should be some extra effort, if there is a legal arrangement, for these people to be able to have residency. Every unlawful person here in New Zealand is participating in various community events. They should be given a chance - a legal way forward.

“When they [family] came to my office, I screened the case and found out that it was the wrong direction they had been advised to take but they had already lost or spent $10,000.”

Vanisi encourages undocumented residents to seek professional advice, but cautions that it may not yield the outcomes they hope for.

“We are not obligated to support illegal migrants to continue staying here in New Zealand. But from screening their case, sometimes we find out that there are humanitarian grounds to be considered.

“There are some cases where there’s no grounds for anything. We seriously advise them, ‘You need to go back if you don't have a visa.’”