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Holi event organisers respond to visa overstayer claims
A Delhi-based organisation has denied any involvement in immigration breaches after several members of a cultural group who came to New Zealand for a Holi celebration in Auckland last month allegedly overstayed their visas.
The group was linked to a cultural delegation associated with the CD Foundation in Delhi and a Holi event held in South Auckland.
Immigration New Zealand says 29 people applied for visas with support from the Indian Consulate in Auckland. In total, 18 people from the group arrived in New Zealand.
So far, three have left the country, while 15 remained in New Zealand. Immigration officials say four of those people held valid visitor visas, and one of them has since departed.
Immigration New Zealand has been trying to locate several performers believed to have overstayed after the event.
In a statement, the CD Foundation said it had no involvement in any visa misuse or illegal migration.
The organisation said it took part in the cultural initiative in good faith, but believes its name may have been used by others without its knowledge. It also says it has informed Immigration New Zealand and is considering legal action in India against an agent it accuses of fraud.
Meanwhile, organisers of the Holi celebration in Pukekohe say they also had no role in visa applications for performers.
Event organiser Akhilesh Chaudhary said the foundation had arranged for Bollywood singer Shibani Kashyap to perform at the event in exchange for screening a documentary.
Another organiser, Gulhassan Parvez, said Kashyap performed alone and that no other singers or models from India appeared on stage.
They said they were unaware that visa applications had been made for other performers.
Shibani Kashyap has also distanced herself from the situation, saying she travelled alone for the event and had no knowledge of the people accused of overstaying.
Immigration New Zealand says the matter is still being investigated.
-TINBureau