Stories by Gill Bonnett
News
Fearing deportation at 97: 'I'd die'
A 97-year-old woman is among those who fear they will be deported from New Zealand to countries ravaged by coronavirus.
Skilled migrant residency programme in need of review - Faafoi
The immigration minister is considering a revamp of New Zealand's largest residence programme.
Some people 'may now be in NZ unlawfully'
Immigration New Zealand is apologising after sending emails mistakenly informing people their visas had been extended.
A third of rejected asylum cases overturned by appeals tribunal
The immigration and protection tribunal has also upheld appeals by more than one in three people due to be deported.
Doubt over managed isolation facilities 'full house' predictions
Managed isolation demand is forecast to outstrip supply by more than 150 rooms in the next three days, but figures over Christmas and New Year cast doubt on the predictions.
Immigration adviser ordered to pay $10k after family's residency dream ruined
An immigration adviser has been ordered to pay almost $10,000 after bad advice led to a family's residence application being rejected.
Promoter claims border approvals a 'game of favourites'
International music and comedy acts are being approved and rejected for border exemptions in a "game of favourites", according to a promoter.
'Not humanitarian enough' - families apart at Christmas
Families spending Christmas apart because of closed borders say they need hope of being reunited in the New Year.
$2b worth of investor visas 'locked up in office in Wellington'
Only a handful of immigration officials are working on processing investor visas that have a total value of more than $2 billion.
Iranian teenager granted refugee status
An Iranian boy who was sexually abused and bullied as a child would face mental and physical harm if he was forced to return and carry out military service, an appeals tribunal has ruled.
How the Five Eyes countries share immigration data
In June, MBIE implemented a system that sped up responses among Five Eyes' border agencies in sharing identity data.
Immigration NZ visa processing finances $135m in the red
The hole in Immigration NZ books has blown out to almost $135m and it's been more than a decade since the agency raised more in visa revenue than it spent.
Managed isolation charges: Third of users not paid fee after three months
A third of all those invoiced for their stays in managed isolation have not paid - more than three months later.
Partnership visa two-tier system: 'What's the logic?'
New Zealand citizens and residents say the government's solution to reuniting them with their overseas partners has led to unexpected, unfair and dangerous consequences.
No refunds for unprocessed visas - 'It's robbery, but it's legal'
Immigrants say they feel scammed after their visas were not processed and they received no refund.
MIQ vacancies: 'Human tragedy behind the empty beds'
Managed isolation planning is under fire after figures show there are still more than 1000 empty places - while separated families say they are being told there is no room at the inn.
Grads locked out of NZ: 'Lost our sleep, our future, our jobs ... still paying expenses'
Recent graduates who spent thousands on their education in New Zealand are questioning why they were left out of a border exemption to get them back to their homes and jobs.
Teen girl wins last-minute reprieve after being told she was in NZ illegally
The 14-year-old girl only found out she was not a New Zealand resident when her mother made a passport inquiry.
Govt, Red Cross spend $15m helping immigrants stranded in NZ
Red Cross says some of those helped were in distressing and sometimes terrifying situations, sleeping in cars and unable to return home.
Hopes pinned on Labour's manifesto leading to significant immigration changes
Migrant groups are looking ahead to what changes the new Labour government will make to border and visa rules.
UK migrant appeals for exemption: 'NZ social workers are stretched'
A British social worker says overseas staff are desperately needed here and they should be allowed a border exemption.
Every MIQ bed left empty is a 'tragedy'
A third of all managed isolation spaces have lain empty since July, with average vacancies running at more than 2000 every day.
Overseas workers told to leave too soon and unfairly - adviser
Overseas workers are being 'consigned to the rubbish heap' after the government left them with no option except returning home, according to an immigration adviser.
Border staff testing plan revealed in new government documents
Newly released documents show 500 out of an estimated 7000 border and managed isolation staff were tested for Covid-19 in the first week of August.
'Huge opportunity': NZ-based movie productions ramping up
It's shaping to be a record year for the New Zealand screen industry kickstarted by border exemptions for Hollywood actors and crew, the Film Commission says.