A group of eight Chinese construction workers have been deported after an Immigration New Zealand investigation discovered they had been working illegally for up to two years.
Photo: 123RF
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) said the group, all men, were detained after a tip off saying they lived in the Auckland suburb of Mount Roskill.
INZ Verification and Compliance general manager Stephen Vaughan said the group arrived in New Zealand on visitor visas and had been working illegally for between 12 and 24 months.
"The Chinese nationals would not divulge any information about their employers but this is a timely reminder that New Zealand businesses have a legal responsibility to ensure their employees are legally entitled to work for them.
"The consequences for employers who allow people to work for them when they are not entitled to can be serious. It is completely unacceptable for foreign nationals to be working in New Zealand without the appropriate visa. INZ and the wider Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment monitor different industry sectors and takes strong action when we come across such illegal employment practices."
"We encourage anyone with any information about migrants working illegally to get in touch with us so that we can investigate and take any appropriate action."