JAKARTA - Immigration New Zealand said on June 17 that a recent cross-agency operation focused on high-risk employers linked to organised criminal activity found 98 individuals in breach of visa conditions and triggered enforcement actions affecting migrants, employers and future visa applications.
The operation was led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Immigration Compliance and Investigations teams. INZ said teams across MBIE worked with New Zealand Police and other partner agencies to share intelligence, coordinate site visits and take action where issues were identified.
The agency said the operation raised 171 alerts on individuals or companies for future visa applications or accreditation.
It also resulted in 44 information-sharing actions and referrals to partner agencies, 14 overseas visa cancellations for individuals who no longer met requirements, seven referrals for accreditation revocation and seven Employer Infringement Notices totalling NZ$21,000 for immigration-related offending.
“These actions help prevent further harm and reinforce expectations on employers and migrants within the system,” Immigration New Zealand said.
The operation sits within New Zealand’s immigration compliance system, which covers breaches of visa conditions, unlawful work, employer non-compliance, false information in visa applications and trafficking in persons.
INZ says its investigations and compliance teams handle offences under the Immigration Act 2009 and can refer matters to other regulatory bodies when appropriate.
In the latest full-year data, INZ said its investigations team received 2,798 complaints in the 2024/25 financial year and completed 413 immigration investigations.
Its compliance team received 5,477 complaints in the same period and issued 475 deportation orders and 274 deportation liability notices, according to its investigations and compliance page.
From April 1, 2024 to April 30, 2026, INZ said 314 infringement notices had been issued under the scheme, resulting in more than NZ$1 million in penalties.
Penalties can include a NZ$1,000 fine for an individual, a NZ$3,000 fine for a company or other entity, loss of accredited employer or Recognised Seasonal Employer status, and placement on the employer stand-down list.
