PM steps in to solve standoff over visas

WELLINGTON: Immigration NZ is to blame for the partnership visa rules that have upset the Indian community and those changes will be reversed, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.

The issue has upset the Indian community, which says that the stricter interpretation of the rules — including for couples to have lived together for 12 months — meant that many spouses in arranged marriages did not qualify.

It led to a verbal stoush between the Indian community and New Zealand First MP Shane Jones, whose fiery comments including telling immigrants to leave the country if they did not like the rules.

The Indian community accused Jones of racism, which he strongly rejected — although he said he would continue to be vocal on immigration issues as it was fertile votewinning ground for New Zealand First.

Immigration Minister Iain LeesGalloway has said he would review the rules in light of the Indian community’s concerns, but Ms Ardern went a step further .

‘‘That was changed as a result of Immigration NZ officials, changing the way they were operating,’’ Ms Ardern said.

‘‘They did not do that under the authority of Cabinet . . . it was a decision made arbitrarily by officials.

‘‘My expectation is that will reverse back to the status quo and the way it was operating before.’’

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters had previously trumpeted immigration changes as a result of his party’s influence, but Ms Ardern said that Mr Peters was referring to parent visas, not partnership visas.

Auckland Indian Association president Narendra Bhana said he was thrilled with Ms Ardern’s comments, and that Immigration NZ had already been in touch to say the reversal could happen within two weeks.

He stood by his condemnation of Mr Jones’ comments and said they had led to a backlash against the Indian community.

Mr Jones had previously told Radio NZ people had ‘‘no legitimate expectations, in my view, to bring your whole village to New Zealand’’. — The New Zealand Herald