Photo: VNP/Louis Collins
New Zealand's prime minister Christopher Luxon is defending his government's new 'parent boost' visa, saying it achieves the right balance despite criticism that it disproportionately favours wealthy families.
The new visa - coming into force in September - allows parents of New Zealand citizens and residents to have multi-entry access for up to five years, with the option to renew it once.
Speaking on PMN's Pacific Mornings, Luxon said the visa is designed to support migrants who wish to have their parents visit for extended periods.
But Auckland barrister Nalesoni Tupou argues that the requirements limit its benefits for most Pacific families.
To qualify, applicants must have at least one year of health insurance covering NZ$250,000 for emergency care, $100,000 for cancer treatment, and costs associated with repatriation and the return of remains.
This insurance must be maintained for the entire duration of their stay in New Zealand.
They must also meet financial requirements: the sponsor must earn the median wage (NZ$33.56/hr), the parent must earn at least $32,611.28, or they must have personal funds of $160,000 (single) or $250,000 (couple).
Lawyer, Nalesoni Tupou. Photo: supplied
Tupou said these thresholds make the visa unattainable for many Pacific Islanders, who often belong to lower socioeconomic brackets.
"This policy is focused on the upper level of the economy to allow parents to be here, not in the lower level of the socioeconomic people," Tupou told PMN News.
"Not many Pacific Islanders will have that minimum level of income."
In response to Tupou's concerns, Luxon contended that the policy mirrors Canada's successful model, saying that it was "never designed" as a pathway to residency but as a way to facilitate more extended family visits.
"This has really come from the community, they've said that they wanted that option and that support," Luxon said.
"You've got to find the balance because at the end of the day, these are people that have not paid into the New Zealand tax system for 40 years and built up our public services, and so you've got to be able to have some income requirements around it that they can genuinely support themselves."
Luxon said there are other existing visas for parents and grandparents, including residency and retirement pathways.
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono told Pacific Waves the visa doesn't value Pasifika families.
"I don't think we were front of mind for them, in terms of this announcement," he said.
"My reading of this is you need quarter of a million dollars... to qualify to be able to access this visa. I don't know that many Pacific Island families with quarter of a million dollars."
Tuiono said the visa is "all about supporting rich migrants" as opposed to focusing on people that have deep connections within Aotearoa, which is "what I think they should be doing".
"Also it's important for us to remember the relationships that we have between Aotearoa and the Pacific, and the importance of those relationships.
"I think what we really need here is to have pathways [to] residency for our people, acknowledging the connections between Aotearoa and the Pacific, and the fact that our people have deep, deep roots in our communities here in New Zealand."
