Immigrants offered Government jobs before qualifying for residency

By RUTH BERRY, Political Reporter


The Immigration Service has admitted that seven immigrants qualified for permanent residence after it offered them jobs, sparking accusations of more potential corruption among staff.

Information from within the service supplied to Act MP Rodney Hide reveals that seven immigrants were offered immigration jobs between July 2002 and April this year, enabling them to reach the pass mark for residency. The immigrants would not have gained residency without the job offers.

Immigration Service general manager Andrew Lockhart said as soon as he was made aware of the offers the practice was banned.

"It is not appropriate that we offer jobs to people when we are making decisions about their residence."

Mr Lockhart accepted that it raised "public perception issues".

But he was satisfied there was nothing dubious in the handling of each of the seven offers.

"There's no question of improper conduct."

But Mr Hide said the revelations raised fresh questions about the competency of the service.

"There's always the concern with immigration officers that they will use their positions of incredible power to advantage themselves in the process.

"We have already seen this within the department where an official was seeking sexual favours from a woman who was only after information."

Offering jobs securing people residency created "the potential for major corruption of the process", Mr Hide said.

"How can New Zealanders have confidence we are operating a fair and transparent process?"

In February the service sacked an officer, after a woman complained he had asked for sexual favours when she inquired about residency.

Three other workers, including two in Bangkok, also lost their jobs this year after failing to admit potential conflicts of interest.

Mr Lockhart said the employment offers were for different positions in a range of offices.

They had not been made by the same person.

"We have been through the appointment process for each of those people, the jobs were advertised and the proper appointment process followed."

The applicants were considered the best people for the jobs.

Mr Lockhart said he was "pretty sure" those employed were still in their jobs.

Now only those who hold New Zealand residency or citizenship can apply for a job with the service.