Time for amnesty for overstayers in New Zealand to help check spread of Covid-19

Kuo taimi ke fakahoko ‘e Nu’u Sila ha’ane tala’ofa ‘ikai toe fakalaulau pe ‘ai makatu’unga (blanket amnesty) ma’a e kau ‘ova kotoa he fonua’ ni. ‘Oku kehe ‘aupito ‘a e tu’unga ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e kakai kotoa ‘o Nu’u Sila ni’ he ‘aho’ ni he ‘ātakai fakataputapui tu’unga ‘i he Koviti-19 ‘o mahino ‘a e fu’u faingata’a’ia fakame’atokoni, fakaenofo’anga mo e fakaefakakaukau ‘a e kakai’ kae tautonu he kau ‘ova’. 'Oku 'i iai e fatongia 'o Nu'u Sila ni faka-e-Totonu 'a e Tangata' mo fakamōlale ke mātu'aki tokanga'i 'a e kakai ko 'eni, ko e toko 2498 Tonga pea tahamano tupu si'i fakakātoa mo e ngaahi matakali kehe'. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha tala’ofa ‘eni fakalukufua ke fou ‘i ha ngaahi makatu’unga (full scale amnesty) hangē ko ia ne hoko he 2000 ‘o hangē ko hono ‘oange pe ‘uluaki faingamālie ki ha kakai ‘ova kuo nau ‘osi nofo ‘i Nu’u Sila’ ni ‘i ha ta’u ‘e nima pea kuo nau ‘osi mali pe nofo fakamali mo ha tangata’i pe fefine'i fonua pe ma’u pepa Nu’u Sila, ‘osi ‘i ai ha’anau fānau pea foaki ange leva ‘enau ngofua ta’u ua ke nau ngāue mo toki ‘apalai ai ki ha’anau pepa. ‘E fu’u faingata’a pea fihi fau ‘a e founga ia ko ia ke fai he taimi ni he ‘oku lolotonga faingata’a’ia e kau ‘ova’ mo honau ngahai fāmili’. Fai mo fakahā ‘a e tala’ofa kae lava ke ma’u tau’atāina ‘e he kau ‘ova’ ni ‘a e ngaahi faingamālie kotoa pe ‘oku totonu ke nau ala ma’u lolotonga ‘a e lokoloka fakafonua ‘oku fai’. Ko ‘ene toki ‘osi ‘a e mahaki faka’auha’ pea mahino kuo lava ‘atā e fepuna’aki pea toki fakakakato leva ‘e Nu’u Sila ‘a e tala’ofa ni ki ha ngaahi makatu’unga ‘o ha ngaahi fiema’u ki ha taha ke nofo he fonua’ ni. Ko e ngaahi kofukofu (package) tokoni ko ‘eni ‘oku tala mai $17 miliona ko e tokoni ki he kakai Pasifiki’ lolotonga e loka fakamavahe’i’ pea kau ai ‘a e kau ‘ova ‘oku faingofua hono fakamatala mai ka ‘oku hangē ia ko e talanoa ko ē ki he feinga ‘a e fanga kumaa’ ke ‘alu ha taha ‘ia kinautolu ‘o tautau e fafangu he kia e pusi’. Ko e me’a ‘e taha ‘oku toe faingata’a’ia mo e ngaahi fāmili, kāinga mo e maheni ‘o e kakai nofo ta’efakalao’ ni ‘i hono toe vavae ‘enau ‘ai’angame’a ki he kau ‘ova. Taimi tatau, ko e taimi na’e te’eki tō ai ‘a e mahaki’ ni, ne ‘osi ‘i ai pe kau ‘ova ne nau ngāue lelei he fonua’ ni mo to’o tukuhau mo fai ‘enau ngaahi fakamole fakapa’anga ‘o tokoni ki he ‘ekonōmika ‘a e fonu’a’ ni.

Kaniva News commentary

[maxbutton id=”2″]

Today’s announcement by Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio that overstayers qualify for health care during the Covid 19 epidemic is welcome.

While Kaniva News does not condone remaining illegally in New Zealand, we know that overstayers’ families and children are particularly vulnerable in the current crisis.

Many have lost their jobs because of the lockdown and information on government websites indicates they have no automatic right to financial help.

We believe that overstayers should be offered a blanket amnesty covering the period of the Covid-19 epidemic to allow them to access the full range of services.

As Kaniva News reported last night, for many Tongan overstayers, the cultural practice of fe’inasi’aki, where families and relatives share whatever they have when things are hard, is their only hope.

Unfortunately, this can mean that families who may already be facing financial difficulties are expected to make unrealistic sacrifices.

It can also mean that families are crowded together in inadequate housing, where it is easier for the virus to spread.

The government responded early to help visa holders whose permits were about to expire.

Holders of a work, student, visitor, limited or interim visa with an expiry date of April 2 – July 9 who were in New Zealand on April 2 have had their visas automatically extended to September 25.

But for overstayers, there has been no such generosity.

As we reported last night, right now there is currently no amnesty for the overstayers.

In 2018 it was estimated there were about 10,000 overstayers in New Zealand, many of whom are Tongans.

A full scale amnesty can be complicated.

During the large scale amnesty in 2000 about 7000 overstayers, including 3500 Tongans and Samoans and a similar number from other countries were eligible to apply for permanent residence.

Overstayers who had been living in New Zealand for five years or more, had New Zealand-born children and were married or in a de facto relationship of at least two years to a New Zealand citizen or resident were able to apply for a two-year work permit as a prerequisite for permanent residence.

In the current crisis such a complicated process would be inappropriate.

Once the pandemic has abated and international travel is possible again, the government could set criteria for an amnesty and provide proper legal pathways for overstayers to remain in New Zealand or be sent home.

For now, what is needed now  is a blanket amnesty that allows overstayers  to augment the medical care Hon. Sio has announced and seek additional help with financial support and accommodation.

About The Author

Sometimes when a business is growing, it needs a little help.

Right now Kaniva News provides a free, politically independent, bilingual news service for readers around the world that is absolutely unique. We are the largest New Zealand-based Tongan news service, and our stories reach Tongans  wherever they are round the world. But as we grow, there are increased demands on Kaniva News for translation into Tongan on our social media accounts and for the costs associated with expansion. We believe it is important for Tongans to have their own voice and for Tongans to preserve their language, customs and heritage. That is something to which we are strongly committed. That’s why we are asking you to consider sponsoring our work and helping to preserve a uniquely Tongan point of view for our readers and listeners.

spot_imgspot_imgspot_imgspot_img

Latest news

Related news