Overstayers get amnesty

Press, 28 August 1986, Page 3

Overstayers get amnesty

PA Wellington The Government yesterday declared an amnesty for overstayers who arrived in New Zealand before August 14, 1983, and had no criminal conviction. It said it would not start any more overstaying prosecutions against people who arrived before that date, and would try to stop actions already before the courts.

Convicted overstayers who have lodged appeals against conviction would be treated at the discretion of the Minister of Immigration, Mr Burke.

The moves, announced by the Secretary of Labour, Mr Jas McKenzie, follow up the announcement of a wide-ranging review of immigration policy and a proposed new law before Parliament. Overstayers who arrived after the given date — three years before the introduction of the new bill— will be able to make applications for permanent residence on the new guidelines, which have loosened some entry criteria. Alleged overstayers who come to notice be-

cause they are convicted on other criminal charges will still be prosecuted and deported under the Immigration Act, 1964. Mr McKenzie advised people who had been in New Zealand for longer than three years to apply for permanent residence without further delay. Those people who had been in New Zealand for less than three years and who believed they might now qualify could apply for permanent residence, “if they wished,” Mr McKenzie said.