Crackdown on immigration planned

David Cunliffe

The Government is proposing sweeping changes to immigration laws which would target people it says should not be in the country.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe today released a discussion document that would include streamlining the appeals process to prevent abuse.

He is concerned it takes too long to remove people who are denied leave to remain in New Zealand.

"We have some people in New Zealand who shouldn't still be here and it takes too long and it costs way too much to make a fair process to work," Mr Cunliffe said.

Currently those denied residency or refugee status have a number of avenues of appeal to delay their deportation.

The Government is now proposing one appeal body to which an applicant can apply after being rejected for residency or entry to New Zealand.

The review proposes only limited recourse to the courts on points of law.

The discussion document and review does not cover immigration policy such as how many people should be allowed in New Zealand or what sort of people gain residency.

The review focuses on the 1987 Immigration Act which implements the Government's policy and allows officials to enforce it.

But Mr Cunliffe said it had been decided not to include in the review the section of the Act that applied in the high profile case Ahmed Zaoui.

This part of the review would be put on hold until Mr Zaoui completed his legal appeal against the decision to declare him a security risk who could be expelled from New Zealand.

Other parts of the review propose:
* Simplifying the visa/permit system
* More grounds for excluding entry of non-citizens
* More access to classified information for making immigration decisions
* Giving immigration officials greater power of enforcement and detention
* Strengthening obligations on third parties such as immigrants sponsors, employers and schools
* Delegating more ministerial powers to officials

- NZPA