Partner visas leave women in risky void

A QUEENSTOWN family harm worker is preparing to meet Immigration New Zealand officials to push for more support for women in the country on partnership visas.

Jigsaw Central Lakes manager Fiona Young said a lack of support meant family harm victims were returning to abusive expartners because they were unable to support themselves financially.

Ms Young said if a person was in New Zealand on a partnership visa and their partner was a New Zealand citizen or resident they could apply for assistance through Work and Income if they were a victim of family harm.

However, if an expartner was on a student or work visa, no support was available.

That was putting pressure on social services and meant victims often returned to abusive relationships because they could not financially sustain themselves.

‘‘It’s quite heartbreaking,’’ Ms Young said.

Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni said it was a ‘‘sad fact’’ people — mostly women — who came to New Zealand dependent on their partner’s study or work visa, could encounter difficulty leaving abusive relationships because it meant they had ‘‘no legal status’’ in New Zealand.

As such, Winz could not assist them financially.

‘‘I am assured however, that Work and Income work closely with Immigration to see whether that status can be changed.’’

Ms Young said Jigsaw, which provides support and help for victims and offenders, received an average of one family harm referral per day.

Across Central Otago she believed by the end of the financial year there would be about 550 referrals.

‘‘It’s always here, regardless of the perception in the community that it’s not.’’

daisy.hudson@scene.co.nz