95bFM ‘We have had enough apologies’: Calls to give lawful status to our overstayers
31 May, 2023
Interview by Nicholas Lindstrom, adapted by Ashley-Rose Redstone
President of the Migrant Worker’s Association Anu Kaloti says people who have found themselves in situations where they have overstayed their visas constantly live in fear without basic essentials. Photo: Migrant Worker’s Association of Aotearoa.
The Migrant Worker’s Association of Aotearoa is calling for change to Aotearoa's immigration policies following reports of modern dawn raids.
In the 1970s, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) specifically targeted Pacific immigrants, raiding their homes during the night or the early hours of the morning. Those who could not prove they were in Aotearoa legally were often arrested and deported.
At the time, Pacific people made up only one-third of the overstayers in Aotearoa, the rest being from Europe and North America. But of those prosecuted, around two-thirds were Pacific Islanders.
The government apologised for the racist policy in 2021. But between July 2022 and April 2023, 19 Pacific people accused of overstaying their visas were arrested by INZ using dawn raid tactics.
President of the Migrant Worker’s Association Anu Kaloti told 95bFM’s The Wire that Pacific migrants working in our horticulture and viticulture industries through the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme face uncertain and unstable living conditions, which affect their mental health.
Kaloti explained that RSE workers are expected to travel back and forth between countries for years, when short-term labour is needed, with no clear pathway to residency.
Around 14,000 people without any visas or legal status are estimated to be living in Aotearoa, including migrant workers, their whānau, and tamariki.
Kaloti said people who have found themselves in situations where they have overstayed their visas are vulnerable to exploitation.
Migrant workers and their children are not offered the same opportunities as New Zealand citizens. They have limited access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and Work and Income benefits.
“People want a better life for their families. They work under the table because they have no other choice,” said Kaloti.
“They constantly live in fear without the basic essentials every human must have.”
Kaloti argued that INZ’s apology should be only the first step towards breaking the cycle and improving Aotearoa’s immigration schemes.
“The next thing that needs to be done immediately is to give lawful status to our overstayers. Then, doing a deep and wide review to improve our immigration policies so that no one is forced to be an overstayer ever again.”
According to Kaloti, our main pathway towards gaining citizenship, the Skilled Migrant Category residence visa, has become increasingly difficult to obtain.
“The government promotes New Zealand as a destination where migration can be a pathway for residents to come and work here, and then you can live here.”
“We need to stop selling pipe dreams to people. We need to have genuine pathways to residency.”
The Migrant Worker’s Association NZ have launched a petition, calling for Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Immigration Michale Wood to grant amnesty to all overstayers and their families regardless of their country of origin.
“We have had enough apologies. We actually need to see some action leading up to an election.”
