Gill Bonnett
OIA response reveals to hide immigration practice
Immigration lawyers say official information channels are being manipulated to hide the use of profiling algorithms on applications from migrants.
An Official Information Act response seen by RNZ on… Audio
Chinese visa applications most held up by security checks
A security analyst says New Zealand's migrant screening is warding off threats from spies, extremists and drug smugglers, but national security checks take time.
Immigration figures show less than a… Audio
Health ministers questioned why nurses shouldn't be on immigration 'green list'
Government papers show health ministers questioned why nurses should not be on the fast track residence list.
There has been widespread criticism of the decision to make nurses from overseas wait two… Audio
Tourists waiting weeks for a visa
Some tourists are waiting more than five weeks to find out if they can pay a visit to New Zealand.
Fewer than one in five visitor visa applications has been approved since August.
Families waiting… Audio
Some stuck in queue for citizenship while others zip through
Thousands of New Zealand residents are languishing in a queue for citizenship while some new applicants are being approved within weeks.
Among those waiting are relatives needing a passport to visit… Audio
DHBs weren't consulted about fast track residencies
District Health Boards around the country were never directly consulted about whether international nurses should be left off the list for super fast residency visas.
The government has repeatedly… Audio
The Week in Detail: GIB, farm emissions, and sick leave
The Detail podcast brings you the issues that matter every weekday. Here's what we covered this week. Audio
Why are asylum seekers treated differently to other refugees?
About half of the 400 people who arrive in New Zealand as asylum seekers every year end up being accepted as refugees - but why are they treated differently to people arriving through the quota… Audio
Immigration NZ looking at health requirements
Immigration New Zealand is putting its health requirements for new residents under the microscope, as campaigners call for fundamental reform of the system.
More than 1500 people have had their… Audio
Migrant Facebook group closed due to legal fears
Can you break the law as a Facebook admin or moderator?
For one New Zealand group, with 75,000 members, that question loomed large after complaints that it was not stopping members from offering… Audio
News 2 Me - Coming Soon!
Your weekly broadcast of tamariki-friendly news from a source you can trust. Public interest journalism funded by NZ On Air. Audio
Lynmall terror attack: Documents reveal intelligence briefings
New security service documents show the LynnMall attacker believed he had been set up by someone who persuaded him to post extremist material online.
SIS briefings say Ahamed Samsudeen was likely to… Audio
Omicron surging but most under-11s have to wait for vaccination
While Omicron infections are surging, most 5-11-year-olds can't be fully vaccinated until at least the middle of next month. The government says it's considered shortening the eight-week gap between… Audio
More automated decision making at the border
Computers are taking over some of the human decision-making at Immigration New Zealand, prompting concerns about the expanding role of automation.
Immigration New Zealand insists algorithms and… Audio
Stranded Kiwis and Aussies want to go home
Australians stuck in New Zealand and New Zealanders in Australia say they still have no idea when they will be able to return to their home countries.
The two groups say they are trapped between the… Audio
Family overjoyed to get residency under new scheme
About 5000 people have become residents under a fast-track Government scheme launched last month.
An estimated 165,000 people will become residents altogether, many by the end of the year. Michelle… Audio
Covid-19: Health providers want more vaccinators and testers
Health providers say more vaccinators and testers are needed if New Zealand wants to out-run the spread of Omicron. Members of a Motueka family attended a wedding and other events in Auckland and ten… Audio
Pandemic disruption impacts NCEA results
Disruption during the pandemic may be to blame for a fall in NCEA pass rates and a steep drop in exam attendance.
More than 160,000 students found out their results yesterday.
The Government says… Audio
Covid-19: Almost a million more people eligible for booster
Almost a million more people are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine booster from today - but almost a third of people who are already able to get it, haven't yet.
There are concerns that some… Audio
Auckland family in need overwhelmed with help from the public
A sad story with a happy ending, one that touched Checkpoint listeners and galvanised action for a migrant family in need. Mother-of-two Tarri Caraquez was in lockdown in Auckland with a two-month-old… Audio