Local Fijians say a better way for the New Zealand Government to help victims affected by floods in Fiji is to let them work in New Zealand, and not giving aid money.
A meeting today to finalise a petition, expected to be signed by at least 300, will
ask Prime Minister John Key to issue special directions for one-year work visas for victims, and for an equivalent to the Pacific Access Category for Fiji citizens in New Zealand to lodge application for residence.
A draft of the petition has been circulating online among the Fijian community since Saturday.
Fijians are not included in the Pacific Access Category ballot for residence in New Zealand each year.
Mr Key is in Papua New Guinea today for the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting where he will discuss Fiji.
New Zealand pledged $600,000 in aid money after floods ravaged Fiji two weeks ago, but community leaders say the money has made little impact.
Umesh Patel, a Fijian pastor at Westcity Christian Centre, who is one of the signatories to the petition, says a move to let more Fijians into the country will also benefit New Zealand employers, who are struggling to find good employees.
"With our Indian roots, Fijians are known to be hard working people and will take on the hard jobs that ordinary Kiwis won't do, and that can only benefit this country."
Immigration consultant Tika Ram, who is leading the petition, said that by issuing a "limited purpose visa" instead of a full work visa, the Government would ascertain that Fijians who come here to work will not be able to go on the benefit.
