It has been more than two years since the New Zealand border closure brought migrants’ lives that were left outside the country to a standstill. Even though the government has announced that it is reopening its door to the world, with some migrants able to return, there are thousands still stuck in a limbo.

Thousands of NZ migrants remain stranded offshore because the border remains closed to non citizens and non residents. Nearly two years on, many migrants’ visas have expired and many more will expire by 30 April 2022, when the government plans to re-open the border to all.

Due to Covid-19 many of us are stuck in countries of our origin as some of us were back home to see our parents, to attend weddings, to get married or to attend funeral etc. Some of us are persons having our immediate families in New Zealand and we have been away from them for more than 19 months with no fault of ours.

With a proactive approach and continuing engagement, we have been trying to create an enhanced understanding with INZ team over the last 2 years since we started regular meetings with them. We have been advocating to get some of the outstanding immigration matters addressed like the Culturally Arranged Marriages visa issue with Immigration New Zealand. Our objective is to get the policies reviewed those affect the communities and get them set in a direction that values the diversity and help in building strong communities in New Zealand.

By way of exception, The Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa (CAM) has existed as a separate visa category for a number of years. This visa category was initiated specifically for couples who were entering an arranged marriage following their established cultural traditions. As such, living together has never been a requirement for a CAM visa.

“We are ready to wait for another six months till the borders open, please treat us as humans, we are not virus.” pleaded Jagdeep “give us one chance, one assurance, everything seems to crumble down around us, our whole family is immensely stressed, and our daughter has developed skin problem and food allergies.”

‘Be Kind Vigil’, is happening outside Jacinda Ardern’s Mt Albert office in Auckland today, 11th August at 6 pm

It was very disappointing for some migrants who came with an expectation that they might get some answers about their issues from a government minister or a Labour Party Members of Parliament. Some of the speakers were also critical of Labour Party leaders deciding to abstain from the event. It would have been a great gesture of empathy even if there was one representation from the ruling party whose leader always keeps talking about kindness and oneness for all migrants.

Dhanesh Muliyil, a work visa holder working in Intercontinental Wellington and his wife Sruthi Radhakrishnan are yet other victims of getting visa rejected due to culturally arranged marriage. But this time the rejection is after the first case officer had approved the partner of a work visa holder.

The Immigration Minister’s two decisions that sparked controversy among migrants was first made on 23 June to continue suspension of the processing of offshore visa applications until 6th February,2022 and second on 7 July where Minister issued instruction to Immigration New Zealand to lapse or return and refund offshore visas, including applications made by the partners of New Zealanders and migrants. The decision of the immigration minister created great turmoil and anxiety among the people affected by this decision.

The Indian News NZ’s initiative was obvious, it was to provide a forum to migrants to share their grievances with leaders who were more than engaging with the community, at the same time encouraging and supportive to the migrant population in the country. We, therefore, appreciate the efforts and thank each one for coming and making this event a great example of kindness and oneness.

The immigration system in Aotearoa is broken due to negligence by successive governments. The current government does not seem to have the will to fix any of the issues either. What happened to the slogans ‘be kind’, ‘they are us’ ‘this is their home’? Surely the Prime Minister was being serious and inclusive when she said all of the above. And yet, the migrants do not feel as if they are in the ‘Team five million’.

The migrants and their supporters are ready to march again because immigration related issues adversely affecting migrants remain unresolved.

– stories right from the heart continued yet again.

494 days separated from my family and still counting…

Last Saturday on the 5th of June, Auckland saw migrants march from Aotea square till the end of Queen Street in the city. The weekend saw set of protests coupled with migrants march where they also marked solidarlity with the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing and justice for Palestine.

#REUNITEFAMILIESNZ – stories right from the heart

“This is not a political issue it is a personal issue,” said Erica who criticized the government for its incompetency in handling migrant issues for which she speaks every day in and out. She says this is not even a political issue because the people she is standing up for cannot even vote for her in elections and why? Because they are not even residents, perhaps can’t even see themselves becoming one for another 4 to 5 years in the near future, thanks to the broken immigration system.

But this is not all… the next step will be to join with other migrant associations to form a federation to give us an even stronger voice.

Our first official event together is a protest in Wellington on the 13th of May between 12.30 pm and 3 pm and afterwards we’ll attend the one-hour discussion about the immigration related petitions that were submitted in the last year.”

People have financial and emotional investment, and they are ready to even drop it only if the government gives some clarity. “Just based on purely economics I think it makes sense at this moment and time to give amnesty to everyone who is here is one of the demand.” says Anu Kaloti.

“Over the past year, we have had to make rapid decisions to vary visa conditions, extend expiry dates, and waive some application requirements across entire visa categories. These decisions have provided more flexibility and certainty to visa holders and employers in New Zealand, and made more migrants available for industries facing labour shortages in a time when New Zealand’s Covid-19 health response needed our borders to be closed,” said Kris Faafoi.

Migrant Workers Association of Aotearoa organized a migrant rally at Aotearoa square at Auckland CBD on the 27th of March, the determination to stand by the migrant community was evident. The message was clear, give justice to temporary migrant workers who are onshore as well as offshore.

The outcome of such indecisive action by the government is obvious, migrants are wanting to leave out of frustration and uncertainty. But the question arises that is the government being consciously sound when they are not paying much heed to immigration issues? Isn’t this the same government where it’s leader talks about showing kindness and compassion to each other when there is community Covid-19 spread or while speaking about Christchurch terror attack?

People want to know why is this just a talk and no action? There is amplified feeling of helplessness and hopelessness among migrants who have either spent thousands of dollars to come to New Zealand or have been here paying taxes since years like kiwis.

A group of long-term migrants currently residing in New Zealand, struggling to gain residence for many years have a heartening request for Jacinda Ardern’s government – to grant a residence amnesty.

The Government has established a new category that will allow 250 international PhD and postgraduate students to enter New Zealand and continue their studies, in the latest set of border exceptions.

As part of the Temporary Migrant Worker Exploitation Review and its response to COVID-19, the Government recently announced changes to reduce the exploitation of temporary migrant workers, including international students. The changes will support people in New Zealand to be in safe and fulfilling work, and businesses to operate with confidence on a level playing field.

“This morning I am announcing that I have dismissed Minister Iain Lees Galloway as a Minister. Yesterday afternoon the leader of the opposition advised me of an email she had received that related to Iain Lees Galloway. She conveyed to me that she had asked the individual to relay anything directly to my office.”

Migrants Workers Association (MWA) of Aotearoa organized two rallies, in Auckland and in Wellington, over the weekend, to highlight the plight of work visa holders, both onshore and offshore.

The Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway who was in Auckland earlier this week, met community leaders and the media, to listen to their concerns as regards to the plight of work visa holders, both onshore and offshore.

The Government is making immediate short-term changes to visa settings to support temporary migrants already onshore in New Zealand and their employers, while also ensuring New Zealanders needing work are prioritised, Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says.

Last week the Government took the next steps to safely help reunite New Zealand families, and support economic recovery without increasing the risk of COVID-19, as noted by the Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway on Friday.