Immigration clampdown after fraud revealed

Immigration Minister Paul Swain is signalling changes in the way immigration fraud is handled, following revelations fake degrees, sham marriages and bogus job offers are being sold to Asian migrants.

A Herald on Sunday special investigation last week uncovered widespread academic and immigration fraud, the details of which have now been passed on to police.

Mr Swain is promising tougher laws, more investigators and a new "immigration czar".

A two-week investigation found the Chinese community was being offered an easy way into New Zealand through buying university degrees, marriages and fake "jobs".

The sellers were found through advertisements in Chinese language newspapers and New Zealand-registered websites. Mandarin and Cantonese speakers working for the Herald On Sunday posing as buyers were able to make contact and arrange meetings.

The Chinese-born speakers agreed to help expose the scams because they were angry at how openly they were being carried out. Posing as immigrants eager to gain residency in New Zealand, they were able to arrange meetings with people offering marriage for $50,000 and degrees from New Zealand universities for $12,000, both of which could help in gaining permanent residency.

Both men - James Li and a Mr Zhao - claimed no knowledge of the scams when first confronted.

Mr Li later admitted involvement. Mr Zhao ran away.

Immigration Minister Paul Swain said an investigation would be carried out. He also said the number of investigators at the Immigration Service would be increased and would include people who spoke a wider range of languages.

As well, more money would be made available and new legislation regulating immigration consultants would be used to target the fraudsters. The legislation would make it illegal for non-registered people to offer immigration advice.

Mr Swain said the types of cases highlighted by the Herald On Sunday would be targeted and punishments could be fines up to $100,000 and seven years' jail.

"We will be much more proactive than we have been."

The new "regulator" of approved immigration consultants would also have wide-ranging powers to uncover scams.

Di Billing, director of public affairs at Massey University, urged prospective employers to contact universities to verify the authenticity of academic qualifications.

Jade Urlich, director of public affairs at Victoria University, said all Victoria University certificates were secure.

- Herald on Sunday