Zimbabwe immigrant policy a 'one-off'

Paul Swain

A Government policy allowing some Zimbabweans to apply for permanent residence without fulfilling the normal criteria is a one-off, Immigration Minister Paul Swain says.

Under a special policy, which starts today, Zimbabweans who entered New Zealand before September 23 last year can apply for permanent residence even if they do not meet the normal entry rules.

Mr Swain today told National Radio the policy had been devised last year when the political situation in Zimbabwe was "very rugged".

The Government had decided that many of the Zimbabweans who had arrived in New Zealand would be unable to return to their home country, yet many did not meet New Zealand's permanent residence criteria.

Many would have had a legitimate claim for refugee status and because of their high numbers could have clogged the system if they had all lodged their claims.

He estimated about 450 Zimbabweans could gain residence under the "one-off" policy.

The Government had originally thought the policy may have netted 1800.

However only 1100 people responded and of those about 650 could gain residence through normal criteria.

Mr Swain rejected assertions that exceptions were being made for people from Zimbabwe because most were white.

His advice was that about half were black.

"Here's a situation where the system has completely broken down in Zimbabwe, run by a tyrant."

"We had people here prior to September," he told National Radio. "A lot of them are not able to apply normally and we need to be able to give them certainty in their lives."

Mr Swain said the policy would not affect those who had entered the country since September.

People who arrived after the cut-off date had been made clearly aware of that circumstance, he said.

He rejected that the policy discriminated against people from other strife-torn countries.

They still had the opportunity to stay in the country, as they could still apply through the normal refugee process, he said.

- NZPA