Immigration NZ staff investigated for corruption and fraud after visas issued to family, friends

Immigration New Zealand has received 208 allegations of staff fraud and corruption over the last five years. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Immigration New Zealand officials are being investigated for granting visas and residency to family and friends, a Herald investigation has found.

The agency confirmed that four have been dismissed and two had resigned while under investigation for conflicts of interest.

INZ received 208 allegations of staff fraud and corruption over the past five years, of which 48 were substantiated. Ten investigations are under way.

The Herald understands some visa officers had issued visas to family members and friends, including one senior official who had allegedly instructed staff to approve a residence visa for her partner.

Acting general manager Peter Elms said the agency received 53 allegations relating to staff fraud, corruption and dishonesty this year.

This was up from 23 allegations last year and 34 in the 2014/15 year.

"A total of 43 investigations have been completed with seven cases substantiated, the remaining 10 allegations are still being investigated," Elms said.

"Five of the seven substantiated cases had conflict of interest elements to them involving personal associations with clients, family and extended family members."

Elms said the allegations ranged from "comparatively minor breaches to very serious ones".

Of the substantiated allegations, four staff faced dismissals and others were issued warnings.

Two resigned before relevant investigations were complete.

INZ staff must declare any conflicts of interest, including perceived or potential ones, upon joining and record those which arise during their employment in a Conflict of Interest Register.

"Failure to disclose or appropriately manage a conflict of interest could amount to serious misconduct and may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal," Elms added.

He said the agency took all allegations of conflicts of interest extremely seriously.

"Behaviour that undermines the integrity of the immigration system and reputation of the organisation will not be tolerated," Elms said.

"While substantiated cases of conflicts of interest are extremely rare, it is nonetheless very disappointing."

A former staff member, who spoke to the Herald on the condition of anonymity, said one of the cases involved a "relatively high-ranking officer" who allegedly instructed staff to grant a residence visa for a partner.

"[A visa officer] was told to keep quiet and just issue the residence visa label into her passport on the spot," the ex-staffer said.

"This person will be eligible for citizenship at some stage and this is just plain wrong."

The officer had also allegedly helped the partner obtain one or two work visas while an investigation into conflicts of interest were ongoing.

"Staff were told this was to allow for the processing of the residence application."

The ex-staffer said the agency had requested the names of all those who were aware of the case "in case of a leak".

When asked for comments on the case, an agency spokesman said: "INZ does not comment on individual employment matters so is unable to confirm any details on the case."

INZ employs 1900 staff worldwide, who make 800,000 visa decisions each year.

The agency said the issue of adhering to its conflict of interest policy and code of conduct is formally raised with staff at least twice a year during performance reviews.