The Green Party is welcoming changes to the immigration system, but calls on the Government to offer equitable pathways to residency for workers not covered by today’s announcement.

The Green Party is once again calling on the Government to grant visa waivers to all Pacific countries. 

Thanks to Green Party pressure, visitors from Samoa can soon travel to Aotearoa without a visa – a right that should be extended to every Pacific country.

The resumption today of the parent visa category needs to be followed by an end to the Government’s unfair salary based family reunification policy.

It is unacceptable for the Government to prioritise family reunification for high income earners, while forcing those on lower incomes to stay apart, the Green Party says. 

The Green Party welcomes the Government’s decision to remove specific qualification requirements to enable more skilled chefs to come to Aotearoa, and calls for more action to improve working conditions for everyone who works in hospitality.

Once again the Government has stopped short of making necessary changes that will end the exploitation of people who travel to Aotearoa to work.

Today’s expansion of the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE) fails to guarantee Pacific people traveling to Aotearoa for work a warm place to live, safe working conditions, and good pay.

Damning evidence released today shows that Cabinet was warned about an increase in the risk of domestic violence as a result of changes to the working rights of partners of temporary visa holders.

The Green Party says the Government is right to carry out a full review of the Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE) scheme - but says the review should start right now.