Minister must get involved in overstayer issue

28 June 2009 Media Statement
Pacific Island Affairs Minister must get involved in overstayer issue

The Pacific Island Affairs Minister must address mounting concerns in Pacific communities about the overstayer issue and begin liaising with community leaders on how to best tackle the problem, says Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Luamanuvao Winnie Laban.

“The Minister’s silence has been deafening and it’s time she stepped up. The recent visa scam highlighted the desperation of many in the Pacific community, as have recent submissions to Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defence select committee which is inquiring into New Zealand’s relationship with the Pacific.

“The committee has been told hundreds of children are not attending school because their parents are in the country illegally and that many are also not seeking the health care they need,” says Winnie Laban.

“As the recession deepens these pressures are growing. Families who support overstaying relatives are struggling in the face of mounting Pacific unemployment and under-the-counter jobs which have supported others are disappearing.

“I’m also encountering rising numbers of distressed Pacific people who have been working here in lower skilled jobs for years, but are now finding their work permits are not being renewed – despite the fact employers want to keep them.

“Pacific people are also rightly worried that the recession is reducing already scarce employment opportunities in their home countries. This is all contributing to heightened concern in our communities. I’m meeting with a concerned Pacific group this week and my colleague Su’a William Sio is working with the Immigration Service to arrange meetings in Mangere.

“But Georgina te Heuheu also needs to get involved and, together with her ministry, begin organising meetings with Pacific community and church leaders to discuss how to tackle the issue,” Winnie Laban says.

“Deportation fears are also growing and the Government needs to work with our communities to avoid desperate measures being employed. I’m not advocating that people break the law, but I’m advocating proper, informed discussion.

“Prime Minister John Key is leading a delegation to the Pacific next week and Pacific leaders will know what’s happening here and will be keen to find out what his Government is doing.”

ENDS