PSA Media Release
June 4, 2009
For Immediate Use

Auditor-General says Immigration staff hardworking and honest

The Public Service Association is pleased that the Auditor-General has found that staff at Immigration New Zealand are honest, conscientious and act in good faith when handling immigration permits and visas.

Auditor-General Kevin Brady today released the findings of a year- long investigation into the integrity of systems and practices within Immigration New Zealand, a division of the Department of Labour.

Mr Brady states: “I am pleased to report that my inquiry team did not find widespread integrity and probity issues.”

“Immigration New Zealand has staff who are generally conscientious, honest, and eager to act in good faith.”

“They need and deserve to be better supported by guidance, systems, and processes that are determined centrally, and open to local modification but only in clearly demarcated ways.”

“The Auditor-General’s inquiry has found that Immigration NZ staff are honest, hard working and doing the best they can to make fair and accurate decisions in handling immigration applications,” says Richard Wagstaff.

“But they are not receiving the support they need to do a difficult and demanding job.”

“They need better guidance, improved systems, an environment where they are able to freely voice workplace concerns and less emphasis on the number of visas and permits they are required to process.”

“We note that the Auditor-General has found that the Department of Labour is acting to address many of the issues raised in his report.”

“We’re pleased that the department has developed a programme to address issues at Immigration NZ.”

“The PSA will be working with the department to build a good productive working environment at Immigration NZ and to improve service delivery,” says Richard Wagstaff

ENDS

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