Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Immigration New Zealand is considering expanding its overseas network of staff - less than three years after it closed its last major offshore office.
The agency shut all but its New Zealand and Pacific visa processing offices, most within 18 months during a 2018-19 restructure. It went on to close Beijing, Mumbai, Pretoria and Manila during the pandemic.
Immigration officers still work overseas, mostly in liaison and risk functions.
Slides used in a verbal briefing to Immigration Minister Erica Stanford in December listed 'early consideration of how offshore footprint could meet efficiency/integrity objectives to inform investment/funding choices' in ideas from officials on what they considered priorities.
The closure of overseas offices was questioned by staff during consultation, who were worried about the loss of local knowledge.
"Many noted their concern about the loss of specialist market knowledge and language expertise, as well as the quality of verification performed and intelligence gathered, following INZ's withdrawal from so many markets," said the summary of feedback.
It went on to list how staff would document relevant insights and information from offshore markets into a central risk repository, and recruit New Zealanders who have country knowledge and language skills.
Immigration New Zealand told RNZ it is looking to see whether this local knowledge would help them in overseas markets. Its seven risk and verification teams are based in America, the UK, UAE, China, Thailand, and India.
In a written statement, general manager of immigration risk and border Michael Alp said: "Many of these key overseas countries have cultural nuances and language differences.
"Understanding these requires knowledge of cultural practices, language skills, and the intuitive knowledge that the lived experience of our staff based in these countries provides.
"It also helps that these local teams understand the drivers of migration from those regions. This means they are not only adept at identifying risk but also at identifying where there is value in an application."
Overseas staff can help manage risk, carry out verification activities and maintain relationships with key countries, he said.
"Immigration leaders are considering if any change to our presence overseas would support our ability to respond to any emerging themes, trends and issues but no decisions have yet been made."
Redundancy payouts to 250 staff at Immigration New Zealand cost almost $8 million when the global network of processing offices was closed.
The INZ business plan in 2017 had forecast a $32m benefit over four years based on 25 percent savings in workforce costs, but that shrank to four percent, and rent on a [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/481931/renting-closed-immigration-office-costs-taxpayers-nearly-3m
Beijing lease that it could not break cost another $2.89m].
Visa fees and levies are to rise from October in an attempt to make INZ self-funding, after a series of government write-offs to balance the agencies' books.