Hundreds a year turned back at border

Hamish MacLean (left), and Samuel White.
Hamish MacLean (left), and Samuel White.
More than 1300 overseas visitors were denied entry to New Zealand last year, mostly because border officials did not believe their stated travel purpose was genuine, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) figures show.

The country's border security protocol came under fire this month, after an Alexandra woman criticised INZ for refusing entry to her Portuguese friend without providing a specific reason.

Mario Quintela, travelling to New Zealand on his first overseas trip, planned to stay in the Central Otago town with Pam Jones and her husband Nuno Vilela, and held a return ticket within the three-month timeframe allowed for a visa waiver visitor, Ms Jones said.

However, he was denied entry at Auckland International Airport because officials were not convinced Mr Quintela's intentions were genuine.

‘‘The only concrete thing they told us was ‘we have some concerns','' Ms Jones said.

The decision caused a backlash online, with an opinion piece written by Ms Jones in the Otago Daily Times shared more than 6000 times on Facebook and attracting dozens of comments in opposition to the decision.

‘‘If we live in free and fair country, if globalisation is part of our lives, why can not we visit our relatives and friends living far away from us and from whom we miss?!'' one message from a Portuguese user said.

Another comment from a New Zealand user read: ‘‘What a sad world when this stuff happens. People with power need to use it to make the world a better place ... not this silly carry on.''

The story was also shared on several Portuguese media sites and published in a print publication, and the couple had been inundated with messages from all over the world condemning the move, Ms Jones said.

INZ told the Otago Daily Times it could not comment on specific cases but there were general reasons it refused people entry in to the country.

They included a suspicion a visitor intended to disregard their visa obligations and become an overstayer, or did not meet the character requirements of their visa.

‘‘The most common reason being that we are not satisfied that they have come to New Zealand for the purpose they have stated, such as saying that they are visiting but their intention is to work here in breach of their visa conditions,'' INZ assistant general manager Peter Devoy said.

Mr Devoy would not be drawn on how much, if any, individual discretion could be used by immigration officers when deciding who was let into the country.

‘‘Border staff are required to follow immigration New Zealand legislation, instructions and standard operating procedures.

‘‘The standard operating procedures require staff to weigh and balance the risks and overall circumstances of every individual they deal with when making a decision.

‘‘All decisions must be reviewed by an appropriately delegated officer before being finalised.''More than three million international visitors arrived in New Zealand in 2014-15, with 1345 of those turned away.

The most common nationality to be refused entry was Hong Kong, with 115, followed by South Africa (94), Great Britain (89), Taiwan (88) and Malaysia (85).

● Ms Jones has filed a complaint with INZ about Mr Quintela's refused entry, which has been taken up by INZ's national manager of border control Senta Jehle.

A givealittle page has been set up to help buy Mr Quintela a new air ticket to New Zealand.

● Pam Jones works as a journalist for Allied Press in Central Otago.

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