28 May 2025
Hon. Erica Stanford
Minister of Immigration
Parliament Buildings
Wellington, New Zealand
Subject: Concerns Regarding Recent Comments on Immigration Correspondence
Dear Minister Stanford,
We write to you on behalf of the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA) to express our deep concern regarding your recent comments in Parliament about emails from Indian nationals being classified as “akin to spam.” As an organisation dedicated to representing and advocating for the interests of the Indian community in New Zealand, we find this characterisation ill-mannered, dismissive, and inappropriate.
While we appreciate that ministers receive a high volume of unsolicited emails, the specific reference to Indian-origin correspondence creates an unfortunate impression of bias against a community that has long contributed positively to New Zealand’s economy, culture, and society. Your comments not only risk damaging trust in the immigration process but also send an unwelcome message to aspiring migrants and Indian-New Zealanders who seek fair and respectful engagement with the government.
As India remains one of New Zealand’s key partners in trade, education, and skilled migration, fostering goodwill between our nations should remain a priority. Remarks that suggest certain groups of correspondents are unwelcome undermine this effort and risk straining bilateral relations.
We respectfully urge you to clarify and reconsider the language used to describe legitimate immigration inquiries and ensure that all applicants-regardless of nationality-are treated with fairness and dignity
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss in which New Zealand can better engage with migrant communities in an open and constructive manner.
We look forward to your response and to working together to uphold the values of respect, inclusivity, and fairness in New Zealand’s immigration system.
Yours sincerely

Veer Khar
President

New Zealand Indian Central Association Inc.