Govt asks immigration changes be reversed back to status quo

The government has asked Immigration New Zealand to reverse its tougher stance on partnership visas that was having a particular impact on the Indian community, says the Prime Minister.

A change in approach by immigration officials to partnership visas - insisting that couples have to spend time living together in order to be eligible - means Indians in particular are having a much harder time bringing their spouses to New Zealand.

After people spoke out about the tougher stance on both the parental category visa and partnership visa, the senior NZ First MP Shane Jones last month lashed out at the Indian community, telling them to "catch the next flight home" if they didn't like the country's immigration policy.

While NZ First leader Winston Peters continues to claim credit for the changes, Minister of Immigration Iain Lees-Galloway insists no government directive was given.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Immigration New Zealand "carte blanche of their own backs made changes - our expectation is that we return to the way we were operating prior to the changes that were made''.

She said it wasn't a decision made by any minister - in direct contrast to Mr Peters' claims New Zealand First influenced the decision and Immigration New Zealand, saying the change was made in line with government policy.

"That was changed as a result of Immigration New Zealand officials changing the way they're operating. They did not do that under the authority of Cabinet, my expectation is that we will reverse back to the status quo and the way it was operating before,'' Ms Ardern said.

"That decision never came to Cabinet it was a decision made arbitrarily by officials, and we're seeking for that to return to the status quo,'' she said.

RNZ- https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/402662/govt-asks-immigration-changes-be-reversed-back-to-status-quo

This news piece was originally published on Radio New Zealand and is being re-published by The Indian Weekender in the agreement of content partnership between Radio New Zealand and The Indian Weekender.