Media releases

A lawyer has been sentenced for providing services that supported migrant exploitation by Faroz Ali, the first person convicted of human trafficking in New Zealand history.

An Indian national New Zealand citizen has been convicted for exploiting Indian workers he employed.

A takeaway and pizza delivery store and its former owner have been sentenced for unlawfully employing a worker and aiding a person to breach visa conditions.

Immigration New Zealand is taking a proactive approach to better understanding issues within the sex industry as part of wider work on exploitation.

A 31 year old female Fijian citizen has been arrested and charged by the Fiji Police with serious crimes including human trafficking as a result of a joint Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and Fijian Police investigation.

Christchurch has been reinstated as a settlement location for quota refugees. The city was a settlement location up until the earthquake in 2010.

The tenth annual survey of RSE employers is another win for the New Zealand horticulture and viticulture industries – and New Zealanders.

New Zealand will extend a warm Kiwi welcome to 21 sponsored refugees, made up of five families, who arrive this week under a new settlement approach.

The New Zealand Samoan Quota is drawn today on 29 June 2018.

A Christchurch liquor store and its owner have been sentenced for employing an unlawful Indian migrant for three and a half years.

Partners and dependent children can now apply for visas online after the latest upgrade to Immigration Online.

Three Wellington businesses – Catalyst IT, Village at the Park and Geeves Scaffolding- were named as recipients of the Immigration Gold Showcase at last night’s Wellington Gold Awards.

A Fijian national has been sentenced after earlier pleading guilty to visa fraud associated with her husband, who obtained residence after making up a story that his family was massacred by a group of Bangladeshi.

A Barrister was convicted for his role of knowingly providing false and misleading information to Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

Citizens of Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Fiji are encouraged to register for this year’s ballot under the Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category, which takes place between 3 and 30 April.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is boosting its risk and verification processes in the ongoing battle against visa fraud.

Families and visitors travelling together to New Zealand can now apply for visas online after the latest upgrade to Immigration Online.

A total of 54 people have been deported from New Zealand as part of an Immigration New Zealand (INZ) operation across Auckland to tackle illegal workers, identity fraud and people smuggling in the construction industry.

A Fijian national who made up a story that he arrived in New Zealand as a stowaway after his entire family were massacred by a group of Bangladeshi has been sentenced on a representative fraud charge.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that more jobs will be created in New Zealand as a result of a decision to bring home much of the high-risk, high-value processing of visas currently done overseas.

A couple and their Auckland-based restaurant have been sentenced on charges of exploitation and providing false or misleading information relating to five Filipino employees they sponsored to come to New Zealand.

Around the world Kiwis are renowned for being friendly, hospitable and inclusive – qualities highlighted in a new two-year pilot programme which launched its Welcoming Communities Standard (the standard) today.

People trafficking charges have been brought by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) against a Bangladeshi couple who are New Zealand citizens.

An airline has been prosecuted for allowing a passenger to board a flight to New Zealand - despite being told by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) not to do so.

A dual Samoan New Zealand pastor and his church have been sentenced on charges relating to lying to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to sponsor a Samoan police officer who was offered work as a youth pastor even though they had no money to pay him.

Immigration New Zealand will be sponsoring this year’s Best Plain English Turnaround Award as part of the WriteMark Plain English Awards.

Immigration New Zealand is joining with Pacific leaders and horticulture and viticulture industry leaders to celebrate 10 years of the innovative and world-leading Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.

A New Zealand permanent resident who tried to fraudulently bring a child into New Zealand has been sentenced for providing false and misleading documents to Immigration New Zealand.

Invercargill has been selected as a new refugee settlement location following a whole of Government assessment.

Citizens of Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Fiji are encouraged to register for this year’s ballot under the Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category, which takes place between 3 and 28 April.

A dual Filipino / New Zealand national has been sentenced after pleading guilty to 284 charges involving multiple fraudulent work visa applications submitted by Filipinos seeking work in the New Zealand dairy industry.

Citizens of Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Fiji are encouraged to register for this year’s ballot under the Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category between 1 and 30 April 2015.

Two men have been sentenced today at the High Court in Nelson for their role in organising false refugee claims.

A second defendant in a people trafficking case has been sentenced at the High Court in Tauranga.

A Fijian national who failed to obtain a visa to come to New Zealand on multiple occasions has been sentenced after fraudulently obtaining a passport using a false identity and entering New Zealand under the false identity.

The work of Immigration New Zealand’s Border Operations team is showcased in the latest Year at the Border annual report, which features some fascinating facts and figures as well as a number of case studies.

A Filipino national and her company have been sentenced on nine charges relating to the exploitation of five migrant workers at their Japanese sushi restaurants in Auckland.

A Fijian national working as a chef in New Zealand has been sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment for immigration fraud.

The first person to be convicted of people trafficking in New Zealand has been sentenced at the High Court in Auckland to a total of nine years and six months in jail and ordered to pay a total of $28,167 reparation to his victims.

A third person involved in the company running the Auckland Indian restaurant chain Masala has today been sentenced on a charge related to the exploitation of migrant workers.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has produced a new guide “Keeping it Clear” to help organisations present their information to those new to New Zealand in such a way that it is easily understood.

All travellers flying to, from or through New Zealand will now be checked against INTERPOL’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database in a move that will make the border even safer.

A Fijian man has been sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment for what a judge described as a lifetime of immigration fraud.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has become aware of a new wave of scam phone calls from individuals claiming to be working for INZ.

A Chinese woman has been sentenced to 26 months’ imprisonment for immigration fraud.

The Immigration New Zealand Samoa and Pacific Access Category quotas are being drawn by ballot today.

INZ is pleased to announce new partnerships with two major Chinese Airlines – Air China and China Eastern Airlines.

An airline has been prosecuted for allowing a passenger who had previously been deported from New Zealand to fly back into the country - despite being told three times not to let him board the flight.

Three Wellington businesses - Powershop, Commonsense Organics and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research were named as recipients of the inaugural Immigration Gold Showcase at last night’s Wellington Gold Awards finalists announcement function.

Two people involved in the management of the Auckland Indian restaurant chain Masala have been sentenced at the Auckland District Court this morning on charges related to the exploitation of migrant workers.

New measures have been introduced at the New Zealand border to refuse entry to overseas passengers who make serious false declarations on their arrival cards.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has selected clinics from all over the country to be part of an onshore panel physician network that will complete immigration medical examinations for onshore New Zealand visa applicants.

Three people involved in the management of an Auckland restaurant chain have been arrested at their homes in the city this morning and charged with offences relating to the exploitation of migrant workers.

An Auckland woman has been sentenced in Auckland District Court this morning to a total of 27 months’ imprisonment after being found guilty of five offences under the Immigration Act 2009.

A Tauranga based fruit farm labour contractor has appeared at the Tauranga District Court this morning on 32 charges under the Immigration Act 2009, including 12 relating to the exploitation of migrant workers.

The Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category will be drawn by ballot today.

A Fijian national has appeared at the Manukau District Court today on 16 charges of people trafficking under the Crimes Act 1961, and 56 other charges under the Immigration Act 2009.

An airline has been prosecuted for allowing a passenger to fly to New Zealand without getting prior approval from Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has been made aware of a new scam website and is urging customers to take special care that they are using the correct site.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) can confirm that it is investigating multiple work visa applications involving Filipino dairy workers.

A dual Filipino / New Zealand national has been arrested and charged with offences relating to a suspected fraud involving multiple work visa applications submitted by Filipinos to work in the New Zealand dairy industry.

New figures released today show big increases in the number of skilled migrants, students and visitors to New Zealand.

Dunedin has been selected as a new refugee settlement location following a whole of Government assessment.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced an increase in the number of seasonal workers who can come to New Zealand to work in the horticulture and viticulture industry under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.

The launch of a new immigration website heralds a new approach to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) delivering an easier, simpler and faster service for its customers.