The government is trying to take a decision on a proposed amnesty scheme for overstayers “as soon as possible”, says Michael Wood.
“It's something we're continuing to review. We've received policy advice from everyone about this issue, and some analysis and some options around how we might take it forward,” the immigration minister told The Indian Weekender.
Immigration officials estimate about 14,000 people across New Zealand are currently overstaying in the country beyond their visa terms. Activists have called for an amnesty for these defaulters, often pointing to the acute labour shortage the country is grappling with.
Wood acknowledges the anticipation building up around the scheme. “Within the relatively short-term period, we know that people are wanting there to be clarity about whether or not we might pursue a regularisation initiative. So, we will look to try and bring that forward and make a decision as soon as possible,” he says.
New Zealand has not had an amnesty scheme since 2000, when about 7,000 migrant overstayers were able to apply for a pathway to residency. Wood had earlier indicated amnesty, if any, will take time to materialise.
He had said, “Our government is committed to upholding a fair rules-based immigration system and delivering on the goals of the immigration rebalance. Progressing an amnesty for overstayers would be a considerable undertaking, and regardless of which group of people it may be extended to, it would take time to progress and would require legislative change,” he said.
The demand for amnesty was buoyed in August 2021 when the government officially apologised for the 1970s dawn raids, when homes of people alleged to be illegally overstaying were forcibly entered by police in the early hours of the morning. People were stopped on the streets and asked to produce permits, visas and passports to prove their right to be in New Zealand.
The country’s main opposition party has indicated it does not support a blanket amnesty scheme. National’s Immigration Spokesperson Erica Stanford recently said, “Many migrants who have been playing by the rules have missed out in recent years, and we should not reward those who have not followed the rules.”
Meanwhile, labour shortage continues to nag businesses as the country recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. But Wood says the immigration system is “responding very strongly” to workforce pressures.
“We, in fact, have record numbers of people coming in with some of those skills that we need to fill up the workforce pressures. But also in the budget [released recently], you see us continuing to invest to make sure that we're doing the hard work to actually train and upskill people. So, there is funding in there for an additional 30,000 people through the apprenticeship booster programme, for example. We've always said this, we need to get the balance right,” he says.