On Wednesday, March 16, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that from 11.59 pm Tuesday, April 12, Australians will be able to travel to New Zealand isolation-free. From 11.59 pm Sunday, May 1, vaccinated travellers from visa waiver countries such as the UK, US, Japan, Germany, Korea and Singapore and also those with valid visitor visas will be able to arrive in NZ.
While the news has delighted many, including the tourism sector, it has also added stress for many Kiwi Indians waiting to reunite with their families. Since India is not a visa-waiver country, the opening of arrivals of tourists from there will take place in October as per the plan till now.
Sharing her sentiment on Facebook, Ruhi Sethi Vij wrote, “Most discriminating government policies. It's been almost three years [since] we didn't see our family. Is it that hard to understand that non-visa waiver country people have same emotions like others. Really heartbreaking.”
Another migrant, Ankit Nagpal wrote, “no good news for us India is still not on list … temp worker overseas need to consider canada rather NZ anymore as it is not a immigrant friendly anymore specially for indian’s.”
Sharing her disappointment at the announcement, Rini Mohandas Vishnu wrote on social media, “Nothing is happening for us. Please help the non-visa waiver countries to get GVV at least as it is in the enhanced system. It will solve the partnership living together issue, parents or children can also apply for it. It's a one solution for the reunification.”
It is not just Kiwi Indians, but even opposition leaders feel that the government needs to prioritise family reunification. National Party’s Immigration spokesperson Erica Stanford said, “PM in May 2020: Split migrant families will be a priority for me. PM today: Announces tourists and working holiday makers can come next month. Split families have to wait until October. This is beyond cruel.”
Green Party's Immigration spokesperson Ricardo Menendez March, too, believes that reuniting families must come before industry profits. Sharing his sentiments, he said, “The racialised inequities between visa waiver countries (mostly global north) and non visa waiver countries (mostly global south) really exposed by this decision. Tourists from the global north are being prioritised over reuniting families from non-visa waiver countries.
“It was disappointing to hear the Prime Minister talk about ‘reuniting tourists with our regional economies’ today, with no mention of reuniting partners with their families, who have been divided by the border for years. We shouldn't be prioritising industry profit over people and their families.
There was no good news for all the split partners and children in non-visa-waiver countries like India and South Africa, who still need to wait till October to apply for visas and finally be reunited. Family reunification must become the top priority.”
Indian Weekender contacted the office of prime minister Jacinda Ardern to know the government's plan to reopen the border from those who are not from visa waiver countries, especially India, which has the most significant migrant cohort in NZ. Responding to the query, a Covid-19 Group spokesperson said, “The government is aware there is a strong desire to bring forward the reopening date for all visitors from October to allow family and friends from non-visa-waiver countries to visit NZ. There are a number of factors that will determine how feasible it is to bring forward this date that are being worked through. Officials will be providing further advice to Ministers shortly on options for non-visa waiver travellers.
“It’s important to note that as part of the recent announcement, around 570,000 people offshore with valid visitor visas will be eligible to enter NZ from 11.59 pm on Sunday, May 1. This group includes thousands of people from India who hold visitor visas, who will be able to travel to New Zealand from this date. Visitor visa holders already onshore will also be able to leave and re-enter New Zealand from May 1 to visit family and friends overseas.”