Gill Bonnett
Immigration authorities to wipe 50k applications
Immigration authorities are going to wipe out up to 50,000 visa applications. While some of those who applied for temporary visas before August last year are happy they will be refunded, others are… Audio
GP feels let down by silence on residency
A British doctor says she feels let down by a government which pleaded for healthcare workers but has now gone silent on how they can become residents.
She is one of 235 doctors and 900 nurses… Audio
Border exemptions allow some families to reunite, but others trapped overseas
A family separated by the border closure since its youngest member was four days old are celebrating the "happiest day of their lives" in Auckland today.
They are three of only 500 people who… Audio
Dairy NZ not happy with last year's decision for visa exemptions
Dairy NZ says the immigration minister should look into whether the criteria used last year to decide who should get border exemptions was fair - with the dairy industry losing out to film and space… Audio
Migrants stuck working overseas for NZ companies want help
Migrants working remotely overseas and their New Zealand companies are calling on the government to let them back in - after 16 months of working from another country.
One man stuck in Brazil is… Audio
More than 10% of critical workers are film, tv & entertainment
More than 10 percent of overseas workers allowed to enter New Zealand have been film, television and entertainment crews. They're among 7000 critical workers who have come across the border in the… Audio
Ombudsman criticises Immigration NZ unofficial policy on applications from highly-paid people
The government watchdog has has criticised Immigration New Zealand for an unofficial policy of cherry-picking highly-paid residence applications.
Staff were told informally in 2018 to queue all… Audio
Shooting at Auckland hotel
Details are emerging of a reported shooting at an Auckland hotel. The police say they were called to an address on Viaduct Harbour Avenue shortly after 9 o'clock this morning. They say there were no… Audio
Hamilton to Auckland train arrives five minutes early on first journey
RNZ is tracking the first official journey for the new commuter train service between Hamilton and Auckland.
Reporter Gill Bonnett is on board.
She spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Collagen: Can pins or pills improve your health
Stacey Morrison find out the best way to increase our collagen and keep our skin looking healthy and radiant.
First communter trains from Hamilton to Auckland begins
Let's go now to the Waikato where the very first passenger rail service between there and Auckland left from Frankton a few minutes ago. Reporter Gill Bonnett is onboard Te Huia. Audio
Terminally ill and families to see easier emergency MIQ access
Terminally ill patients and New Zealanders travelling to see dying relatives will now find it easier to secure an emergency spot in managed isolation.
And spare capacity in managed isolation has… Audio
More emergency places for managed isolation
It'll soon be easier to get an emergency place in managed isolation. The government is increasing the number of spaces available and widening the criteria. Max Towle speaks to RNZ's immigration… Audio
MIQ vouchers available for April
Prospective travellers are being urged to check online for managed isolation vouchers, after hundreds of them became available for April and beyond. For the first time in months, demand for these… Audio
Immigrants discouraged for applying for benefits, man claims
A migrant who was refused Government support when he lost his job says applicants are being discouraged from applying. The migrant, who asked not to be named, was twice received support from Internal… Audio
Covid-19: Elderly fear deportation to pandemic-hit countries
A 97-year-old woman is among those who fear they will be deported from New Zealand to countries ravaged by coronavirus.
Others are in their 70s and 80s and say they face a life of fear and isolation… Audio
Faafoi considering revamp of residence programme
The immigration minister, Kris Faafoi, is considering a revamp of New Zealand's largest residence programme.
Faafoi says a review of the skilled migrant category is a priority. He says no decision… Audio
War of words between Ardern, Morrison over detained IS suspect
A war of words has erupted between Australia and New Zealand over a suspected Islamic State woman arrested today at the Syrian border.
The woman had dual New Zealand and Australian citizenship, but… Audio
NZ visa system frustrating for couples split by Covid-19
New Zealand citizens or residents say they are back to square one as they battle for visas for their overseas partners.
And some are crying foul over a two-tier system allowing border exemptions to… Audio
"We want our lives back" - migrants locked out of New Zealand
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. After months of being… Audio