The scams that undermine NZ
‘‘Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway insists that tackling migrant exploitation is ‘one of the top two priorities in the portfolio’. Sadly, it appears there is no rush.’’
Bernie Madoff will die in jail. He’s serving a 150-year sentence for fleecing thousands of people and organisations of close to US$65 billion in the world’s largest ponzi scheme. Were he to read about New Zealand’s immigration system, and the ease with which many are ripping off hapless victims, the Government and the country’s global reputation, he’d no doubt tip his hat in admiration at the audacity and the opportunity.
Many of the numbers don’t stack up: $35,000 here, $9000 there, $50,000 in another case; that’s not in Madoff’s league, but in one sense, the scam that immigration appears to have become is much bigger than anything he ever dreamed up.
His fraud ruined a few inheritances, diminished personal fortunes and obliterated future retirement plans. The scourge of immigration fraud in this country, and the Government’s inability to tackle it, could seriously undermine not only our $4 billion overseas student ‘‘industry’’, but also its work to bring highly skilled, good-quality migrants here, and the public’s perception of that immigration, considered so vital for our economy. Not to mention New Zealand’s reputation as a paragon of fairness and good human rights.
Stuff’s investigation into how immigration scams work acknowledges that it is has barely scratched the surface of a ‘‘corrupt iceberg’’. Beyond the obvious pain for migrants brave enough to talk about the cost in money, shame and personal health from their collisions with this particularly cold crime, there is the strong sense of a deeper, more uncomfortable truth.
Some people have clearly benefited from the corruption at the heart of so many cases. But the New Zealand economy has itself gained an advantage through exploitation; if not by obvious corruption, then at least some form of collusion.
Everybody appears to be complicit. From the seemingly hapless migrant who must have had some reservations about the veracity of the ‘‘fixer’’ getting them into the country for a few thousand dollars, to the kiwifruit grower willing to look the other way for cheap labour, the restaurateur doing likewise, the financially troubled polytechnic obsessed with bums on seats, no matter where they come from, to the Government keen to keep all these balls in the air, for the sake of the economy. Everyone appears to be compromised, the scams so deeply integrated into our economy that we seem willing to tolerate the cries of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of out-of-pocket and soon-to-be out-of-country migrants, lest the whole facade tumble down around us.
Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway insists that tackling migrant exploitation is ‘‘one of the top two priorities in the portfolio’’. Sadly, it appears there’s no rush.
The issue is such a priority that Lees-Galloway has commissioned a review and a report, which are not expected until next year. Meanwhile the fraud continues, despite the odd legislative tweak.
So rampant is the wrong-doing that Immigration New Zealand assistant general manager Peter Devoy appears less than thrilled that Stuff’s probe means more work for his overloaded investigators.
Bernie Madoff should have emigrated to New Zealand. He would have made a killing here.