Residence rule change for parents of children living unlawfully takes effect 12 November

From 12 November, parents will no longer be able to be granted New Zealand residence if their dependent child is living in the country unlawfully. The immigration rule change has drawn criticism from the Green Party.

Before the change, a parent could be granted residence even if their dependent child was in New Zealand without lawful status. Immigration New Zealand says the new rule is designed to prevent situations where parents obtain residence while their child remains in the country without a valid visa.

Green Party immigration spokesperson Ricardo Menendez March said the change will be life-ruining for families with disabled children. He said the change was only announced during the caretaker period, the time between an election and the formation of a new government.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said the change is about ensuring consistency in immigration outcomes. She said the decision was made in October, before the election, rather than during the caretaker period.

Labour's immigration spokesperson, Phil Twyford, said Labour had not been consulted on the immigration rule changes. He said Labour is committed to reviewing the Acceptable Standard of Health, the health rules applied to migrants, to ensure they are fair and fit for purpose.