Immigration

democracy and international relations

Luxon chooses to join the anti-migrant bandwagon

The Prime Minister's pre-Budget speech today confirms a Government that has chosen to scapegoat migrants and shield corporate profit while New Zealanders struggle to pay the bills, says the Green Party."Christopher Luxon has made his choice. Blame migrants for the problems of the world in order to protect corporate profits driving the cost-of-living crisis," says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.   "Luxon talked about the patterns playing out around the world right now, highlighting far-right anti-immigration fear mongering. He very intentionally side-stepped the...

Posted at May 13, 2026 3:09 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

democracy and international relations

Christmas stolen for NZ born footballer facing deportation

The Green Party is calling on the Associate Minister of Immigration to act immediately to prevent a New Zealand-born child from being potentially forced to leave the country just days before Christmas.“This case exposes the harsh consequences of an immigration system that has failed to respond with humanity,” says the Green Party’s Immigration spokesperson, Ricardo Menéndez March. “Aotearoa can be a country that leads with compassion, evidence and aroha. But this case highlights the lasting impact of the changes to...

Posted at December 15, 2025 10:23 AM by Ricardo Menéndez March

democracy and international relations

Overstayers need pathway to residency

The Green Party says latest figures on people in this country without a visa show the need to provide clear pathways to residency for the many people falling through the cracks.“It’s time to lay a clear pathway to residency for the many people already here and part of our local communities, but without a visa,” says the Green Party Spokesperson for Immigration, Ricardo Menéndez March. “Successive governments have enabled too many people to fall through the cracks, with no pathways...

Posted at September 04, 2025 11:48 AM by Ricardo Menéndez March

democracy and international relations

Govt parent boost changes prioritise rich over poor

The Green Party is calling out the Government’s parent boost changes that benefit a wealthier minority while doing nothing to help reunite thousands of migrant families. “The Government is essentially telling thousands of migrant families that if your parents don’t have a quarter of a million in funds, they are not welcome here,” says the Green Party's spokesperson for Immigration, Ricardo Menéndez March.  “Our migrant communities give so much to Aotearoa, they deserve to be treated with respect and provided with...

Posted at June 08, 2025 2:54 PM by Ricardo Menéndez March

democracy and international relations

Government tramples on the rights of disabled migrant children

The Green Party is condemning the Government’s move to tighten access to visas for disabled children. “Disabled people deserve dignity and respect. Today's news is a slap in the face and a prime example of the punch-down politics that dominates this Government,” says the Green Party’s Immigration Spokesperson, Ricardo Menéndez March.  “Disability should not be a barrier for migrant families wanting to come to Aotearoa and call it home. Stopping migrant families from coming here because they have a disabled child...

Posted at March 14, 2025 5:19 PM by Ricardo Menéndez March

democracy and international relations

Greens join call to create special visa for Palestinians

The Green Party stands with more than 30 organisations in urging the Government to urgently set up a special visa pathway for Palestinians. “The situation in Gaza is worsening by the day and it is the duty of the Government to do all it can to aid those in need. I am calling on the Minister of Immigration to initiate a special visa pathway for Palestinians,” says Green Party spokesperson of Immigration Ricardo Menéndez March.  “This is a matter of life...

Posted at March 21, 2024 2:43 PM by Ricardo Menéndez March

democracy and international relations

Migrant worker changes fall short

The Green Party welcomes the Government’s decision to accept the recommendations of the review into the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) but calls on Ministers to address the core of exploitation by decoupling work visas from single employers. “It’s clear that the way the AEWV has been administered has led to an increase of exploitation, but so long as people’s whole livelihoods depend on a single employer this scheme will continue to enable exploitation,” says Ricardo Menéndez March, Green Party’s Immigration...

Posted at February 27, 2024 12:00 PM by Ricardo Menéndez March

democracy and international relations

Only the Greens will deliver a fair amnesty for overstayers

The Green Party is today welcoming Labour coming to the table to ensure an amnesty for overstayers, but only the Greens will ensure immigration settings actually reflect the reality of people who have been failed by our immigration system.“Migrants deserve to be treated with dignity and respect by our immigration system. But for many in our community, our immigration system has left them behind. They've fallen through the cracks, left vulnerable to exploitation, and denied the safety and security of...

Posted at September 23, 2023 2:38 PM by Ricardo Menéndez March and Teanau Tuiono

democracy and international relations

Govt changes fall short of what’s needed for migrant protection

The Green Party will keep up the fight to support exploited migrant workers, including pushing to end single employer visas, after the government picked up Green recommendations to improve immigration settings.“Only the Green Party will carry community voices into Parliament to keep up the fight for fair work rights. It’s time to end visas that bind people to specific employers,” says Ricardo Menéndez March, Green Party’s Immigration Spokesperson. “We welcome people into our communities who want to make Aotearoa home,...

Posted at September 20, 2023 3:14 PM by Ricardo Menéndez March

democracy and international relations

Government must ban dawn raids and grant amnesty

The Green Party is calling on the Government to follow up words with actions, and ban the practice of dawn raids and provide an amnesty to all overstayers.“The report released yesterday by Mike Heron KC should be a wake up call for the Government. Two years ago the government apologised for the dawn raids of the 1970s. They should have listened to community leaders who immediately after the apology were calling for both an amnesty for overstayers and an end...

Posted at July 11, 2023 10:35 AM by Ricardo Menéndez March

democracy and international relations

Concerns as people most likely to be exploited are left out of pathways to residency

The Green Party is urging the Government to fix the immigration system to ensure that low-waged, and often essential workers, are guaranteed a pathway to residency under the new revamp of the Skilled Migrant Category pathway.“During lockdowns we celebrated our supermarket workers, construction workers and many other low-waged tradespeople who continued working, recognising they were essential to our communities. Many of these workers could now be locked out of a pathway to residency and face a maximum stay in Aotearoa...

Posted at June 21, 2023 11:02 AM by Ricardo Menéndez March

democracy and international relations

Greens secure greater protections for exploited migrant workers

The Green Party is pleased that the Government has adopted an amendment that would guarantee migrants are not adversely affected when holding exploitative employers to account.“Migrant exploitation is rife in Aotearoa, and unfortunately many migrants who face exploitation end up in breach of their visa conditions putting them at risk of deportation. Migrants should have the confidence that any moves to hold exploitative employers to account should not end up causing harm to the victims of exploitation,” says Green Party...

Posted at June 20, 2023 5:45 PM by Ricardo Menéndez March

democracy and international relations

The time is now for overstayer amnesty

With the alarming number of Dawn Raids occurring, the Green Party is calling on the Minister to immediately grant an amnesty to all overstayers.“I have been utterly appalled by recent reports of Dawn Raids occurring across Aotearoa and call on the Minister to put a stop to this once and for all by granting an amnesty to all overstayers,” says the Green Party’s Pacific spokesperson Teanau Tuiono. “I ask anyone to put themselves into the shoes of this man and...

Posted at May 02, 2023 9:53 AM by Ricardo Menéndez March and Teanau Tuiono

democracy and international relations

Labour must come to table on RSE residency

The Green Party welcomes National’s support of residency pathways to RSE workers, and is urging Labour to join this emerging cross-party consensus.“The Government needs to act urgently to provide a pathway to residency for RSE workers. While we welcome National coming to the table on pathways to residency, we must go further and decouple work visas from single employers, and completely redesign the scheme to put workers rights first. Without an actual overhaul of the scheme, the exploitation of workers...

Posted at April 19, 2023 12:05 PM by Ricardo Menéndez March

democracy and international relations

All migrant workers deserve pathways to residency

The Green Party welcomes the broadening of the number of professions who are part of the Green List and Straight to Residency Pathway, and calls on the Government to do more for the workers who are currently without any pathways to residency.“Migrant workers deserve the certainty of being able to put down roots in their communities and their contributions to be honoured, instead of precarious and often exploitative conditions. We have been fighting for the broadening of pathways to residency...

Posted at April 11, 2023 5:23 PM by Ricardo Menéndez March