Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:607;Page:4531] 
1. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Immigration 
: Is she satisfied that New Zealand’s student visa scheme is operating satisfactorily; if so why? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL (Minister of Immigration) 
: 
 I am largely satisfied given that there were over 80000 international students in the country last year. I have to say that the scale of abuse is small. However where such abuses do occur we investigate. At present we are investigating allegations that a so-called training provider in the Wairarapa has brought in workers as students. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Why do we have yet one more example of students from abroad being abused misused exploited and used as cheap labour all of course granted admission by this Minister by way of visa and given that she was spoken to late last year—and this is not a laughing matter Minister—what has she done about it? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: We are investigating that matter. A number of issues arise and they are not all related to immigration. I should advise the member that the institution concerned has in fact offered Samoan workers jobs that have enabled them to gain residence through the Samoan quota. That means there are some serious issues relating to conditions of work and I am advised that these are being investigated by the Employment Relations Service. 
Taito Phillip Field 
: Are international students in New Zealand on a student permit entitled to work; if so under what conditions? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: Yes but only if a variation to the student permit allowing for work is granted. Students may apply for permission to work to fulfil course requirements—which was what was attempted in this particular instance but has not met the standard required—and up to 15 hours per week if they are tertiary students undertaking a long-term course of study or during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. 
Pansy Wong 
: How does she ensure that the New Zealand Immigration Service can monitor students’ continued enrolment attendance and performance under the new policy provision that provides for the issue and granting of student visas and permits for the length of a student’s course of study regardless of the period for which that student has paid course fees—especially in light of the fact that Australia has tightened its immigration law making prospective students provide better evidence of financial stability? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: They also have to provide evidence of certain other things in Australia. With regard to monitoring I make the point that we are very dependent on tertiary education providers and schools providing information to immigration that students are not complying with the provisions of their permits. 
Larry Baldock 
: Is the Minister entirely confident that her proposed amendments to the Prostitution Reform Bill will ensure that no overseas students will be trafficked to New Zealand for prostitution under the guise of a student visa; if not why not? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: The amendments I have tabled by way of Supplementary Order Paper are designed to ensure that any work permit that is used for the purposes of prostitution will lead to that permit being revoked and the person removed from New Zealand. 
Larry Baldock 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was whether the Minister was confident that the amendment would ensure that no prostitutes were brought into New Zealand. Could she answer the question? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No the Minister addressed the question. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: How does the Minister think that this so-called training institution conforms to any requirements she might have with regard to policy when the education consisted of a single 1-hour lecture per week where Samoans were promised $14 to $15 per hour but paid piece rates and went home with $170 per fortnight in their pockets which is less than the dole; how is it that a whole lot of Chinese entered that training programme and went AWOL and where are they now? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: They were not Chinese. They were from Nepal. A little bit of extra work would have found that out. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister is giving an answer. She is entitled to do so. The member is entitled to have further supplementaries. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The point of order cannot relate to that particular point. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I should not have to give the Minister a geography lesson particularly when she is in charge of people coming into this country from all around the world. Her opening statement is demonstrably and palpably wrong. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is a matter for debate. 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: I am not satisfied with the circumstances at the Fernridge Institute of Training Ltd. It is not registered with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. The New Zealand Qualifications Authority the Immigration Service and the Employment Relations Authority have serious concerns and it will be investigated by the Government. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Well how did they get in here; was it just like the Japanese programme in Auckland or is the Minister responsible for nothing in the ministry any more? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: Given that the Japanese establishment in Auckland was Given that the Japanese establishment in Auckland was established in 1994 that matter is hardly relevant to my role as the Minister of Immigration. There might have been an error with regard to the issuing of student visas when this particular establishment did not have New Zealand Qualifications Authority approval.