NZ work visas

WELLINGTON - Sixteen Pacific Islanders have been granted temporary work visas in New Zealand under a Special Residence Category for victims of people trafficking.

Immigration New Zealand said the 16 people from Fiji and Samoa were approved for their visas between July 2016 and July 2019.

In total, there were 17 successful applications — 14 from Fiji and three from Samoa — including from one person who made multiple applications.

There were 92 individual applications decided under the category since 2016.