Stories by Gill Bonnett
News
'Denial of justice' in Chinese couple's residence quest, ex-minister says
An immigration decision against two suspected spies has the hallmarks of a set-up to deny them justice, according to a former minister and immigration lawyer.
Couple denied NZ residence due to Chinese intelligence links
A couple who set up a business in New Zealand have been described as a threat to national security because of their link to Chinese intelligence services were rejected for residence.
Former refugees push for action on better settlement for future arrivals
Refugee advocates have joined forces to demand a say on the review of New Zealand's refugee resettlement strategy.
Doctor excluded from one-off residence visa says govt change 'makes no sense'
A doctor says leaving the country and flying back in is the only way for her to be eligible for the government's one-off residence visa.
'Clunky and siloed': how we hold the public sector to account
New Zealanders are frustrated at how government agencies are held to account, with change needed to reconnect the public sector with those it serves.
Critics say govt Three Waters ads are 'irresponsible, misleading'
Complaints about the government's Three Waters Reform TV adverts have described them as misinformation, untrue and a taxpayer-funded propaganda campaign.
Vax for visas: 'Overstayers would come out of the woodwork'
Pacific leaders say offering 'visas for vaccinations' would be the ultimate incentive for overstayers to get the Covid-19 jab, as Auckland struggles to stop infections spreading through the community.
Immigration lawyer calls for Covid-19 vaccination to be a condition of visas
Richard Small says with a record 165,000 new residents expected next year, making Covid-19 vaccinations a condition of visas would increase immunity levels in hard-to-reach communities.
'I don't exist': Government silence hurts migrant parents
Migrant parents say they feel invisible after they were left out of an immigration announcement offering residency to thousands of others.
'Massive divisions' - Greens call for extension of one-off residence
The Green Party is calling for an expansion of the government's one-off residence visa.
'Screaming for justice': Migrant students who missed out on residence
People who missed out on one of the 165,000 residence visas are cursing their bad luck at not being on the right visa on the right day.
Act pushes for improvements to Immigration NZ productivity
Act leader David Seymour says the government should dump its immigration reset, after it announced a record number of residence visas.
'It tears the family apart': Migrants seek detail over new fast-track visa option
New Zealand will welcome five times its usual number of new residents by the end of next year in what the government describes as the "biggest immigration decision in living memory".
'Imperative minister seizes opportunity' over residence visas - National
The government has backed itself into a corner on immigration and is set to announce long-awaited residence changes this week, according to the National Party.
Govt emails provide more detail on Google boss' NZ residency
Government emails about billionaire Larry Page show he wanted his child's medical evacuation to New Zealand to be kept quiet.
'Immigration is key': MP criticises 'big bit that's missing' from inquiry
The Auckland terrorist's immigration history is a glaring omission in the review of events leading to the 3 September attacks, National says.
Terrorist tried to revoke NZ residence but his request was 'not progressed'
The terrorist who stabbed shoppers at an Auckland supermarket tried to relinquish his New Zealand residence three years ago.
Medical report on LynnMall terrorist 'unreliable', officials said
Officials who initially refused the refugee claim made by Auckland terrorist Ahamed Samsudeen found inconsistencies in his story and said a medical report on him was unreliable.
Almost 3000 doctors and nurses waiting to apply for skilled migrant residence
A consultant radiologist says recruiting and retaining staff in areas of critical shortages is hard while there is inertia on migration policy.
Deleted Immigration NZ website post appears to be copy of new policy - adviser
Information about skilled residence visas mistakenly posted on Immigration New Zealand's website appears to be an advance copy of the government's new residence criteria.
Benefits for migrants to end today - 'What happened to our fabled kindness?'
Emergency benefits for migrants are being axed from today - and advocates say the timing could not be worse.
'Zero response' from govt after visa delay concerns raised - doctor's union
The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists is calling on the government to urgently address immigration difficulties for doctors and other health workers, describing the system as shambolic.
Calls for medical staff to be prioritised for residency: 'We need to look at it like an emergency'
The government is being told to act swiftly on immigration because delays are leading to the loss of urgently needed medical staff during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Woman who made false rape claim wins deportation appeal
A woman who made a false allegation of rape against her former partner in a "sustained and clinical course of deception" has won a reprieve from deportation.
MIQ bookings frustration made worse by government tweet
New Zealanders stranded overseas are incensed after they were told a freeze on managed isolation bookings meant they could "take a break" from their round-the-clock attempts to find an MIQ space.