New Ministers in the Immigration Portfolio – find out more!

 

On Monday, 2nd November, PM Jacinda Ardern announced a new Cabinet and Ministry following on from the October General Election. As a result there are now new Ministers in the Immigration Portfolio. The first of these is the Hon Kris Faafoi as Minister of Immigration, the second is the Hon Phil Twyford as Associate Minister of Immigration. 

 

 

Those in the space of Immigration will be familiar with the Hon Kris Faafoi. Kris Faafoi previously served as Associate Minister of Immigration from 2017. Following on from the resignation of Iain Lees-Galloway, Kris Faafoi was appointed Minister of Immigration. After the General Election Kris Faafoi has kept the role of Minister of Immigration along with his existing roles of Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media and Minister of Commerce and Consumer affairs. 

 

 

The new addition to the Immigration Portfolio is the Hon Phil Twyford. Phil Twyford picks up the role of Associate Minister for Immigration – the role previously held by Hon Poto Williams. Phil Twyford is the MP for Te Atatū  and has previously held the portfolios of Minister for Transport & Minister for Housing and Urban Development. In addition to his current role as Associate Minister for Immigration, Phil Twyford is the Minister for Disarmament & Arms Control and Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth, he is also Associate Minister for the Environment. 

 

 

Related to the Immigration Portfolio is the newly created one of Minister for Covid-19 response held by the Hon Christopher Hipkins. Responsibility for Immigration related areas of Covid-19 response such as border controls and Managed Isolation and Quarantine will be part of his role. 

 

Changes in the Immigration portfolio are an opportunity for fresh thinking and policy changes in the Immigration Space. There remain many challenges which need to be resolved including the backlog of Residence Applications, the way partnership is defined – the problematic living together component & the manner in which Temporary Entry Visa decisions are conducted and the redress available. More immediately there are a large number of temporary visa holders with little prospect of returning home as Covid-19 hits parts of the world in a second wave. These are some of the challenges the new Ministers in the Immigration Portfolio will have to face. 

 

We at Idesi Legal look forward to a fresh approach to short term issues such as the response to Covid-19 and long term chronic issues in the Immigration space. 

 

Please contact Idesi Legal at admin@idesilegal.co.nz