New Zealand to tighten immigration rules amid crime concerns

New Zealand's flag flutters in front of 'The Beehive', the executive wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings, in Wellington, New Zealand, September 24, 2025. (REUTERS/Marty Melville/File Photo)

WELLINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) - New Zealand's government will introduce legislation on Wednesday to tighten deportation, asylum and immigration enforcement rules, saying the changes are needed to tackle serious offending, migrant exploitation and bad-faith claims.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said the changes would give authorities "proportionate tools" to manage immigration risks while ensuring the system is fair, functional and effective.

The bill would extend from 10 to 20 years the period during which a resident can become liable for deportation for serious criminal offending, raise the maximum sentence for migrant exploitation to 10 years from seven, and widen powers to act on false or misleading information supplied during the immigration process.

The bill will have to pass three readings in parliament, but as the government has a majority it will likely pass. 

The move reflects a broader push by governments globally to strengthen immigration and asylum systems as they face political pressure to deter abuse, deport non-citizens convicted of serious crimes and preserve public support for refugee protections.

Alongside the bill, the government will table a parliamentary paper proposing further asylum changes, including allowing officials to consider serious crimes committed in New Zealand before refugee status is decided, according to the statement.

Stanford said 14 known refugee claimants had been convicted of serious offences in New Zealand, including murder, serious sexual and drug crimes, and arson.

Other proposals would let authorities move more quickly against claimants deemed to be acting in bad faith, including those who deliberately seek publicity to bolster asylum claims, and against those who fail to attend biometric appointments without good reason, the statement said.



(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)