1. Question No. 1—ImmigrationTEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Minister of ImmigrationORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Immigration1. TEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Minister of Immigration: How many people have been deported by Immigration New Zealand since the beginning of March 2020 and of these how many have been deported to Pacific Island nations?Hon DAVID PARKER (Attorney-General) on behalf of the Minister of Immigration: I'm advised that the total number of people liable for deportation who were deported by Immigration New Zealand from March 2020 including those who self-deported or in other words departed voluntarily following compliance action is 1088. Of this group of 1088 119 people were returned to the Pacific. Deportations to the Pacific are fewer when compared with pre-COVID because of both border restrictions and limitations on available flights. The deportees this year included people who had completed prison sentences for convictions of violence such as assault serious assaults threats and intimidation. Where deportations occur Immigration New Zealand works closely with Pacific Governments on management of that process.Teanau Tuiono: Does he share the concerns of the Pacific Leadership Forum that fear and anxiety about deportations is a barrier for Pasifika overstayers being tested and vaccinated and that this could undermine the Government's COIVD response?Hon DAVID PARKER: Look I think the Government's been absolutely clear that we're not approaching deportations in that manner and that we're doing our utmost to include everyone in the vaccinations that we need every New Zealander to take. These deportations are of a different category. I would also note that in respect of Fiji which of course has had COVID problems develop this year there has been no deportations at all since 22 April this year. Teanau Tuiono: Does he think that deporting overstayers in the middle of a pandemic sends a message of fear to a community that is being encouraged to come forward to get tested or vaccinated? Hon DAVID PARKER: Well as I said in response to an earlier question I think we've made it abundantly clear that vaccinations are not being used to identify overstayers and that the deportations that we have seen earlier in the pandemic were of a different nature. As I also said in another answer for example in Fiji there has not been one deportation even for released criminals since 22 April this year.Teanau Tuiono: Is the Minister confident that people being deported have been tested for COVID-19 to minimise the risk of unknowingly spreading COVID to Pacific countries?Hon DAVID PARKER: I can't answer for every person partly because a lot of the deportations that there have been are voluntary departures by people whose visas have expired. In respect of people who have come from the corrections system you will have heard from answers that the Minister of Corrections has given to this House that there are considerable steps undertaken within the corrections system to ensure that everyone is safe and free of COVID. Teanau Tuiono: Does he consider that a decision on an amnesty for overstayers as a part of a public health response should be made now rather than at the end of the year through the immigration review? Hon DAVID PARKER: No.Teanau Tuiono: Is the Minister confident that Immigration New Zealand conducts investigations into potential migrant exploitation before deporting overstayers?Hon DAVID PARKER: Could I ask the member to repeat that question? I'm not sure I caught the import of it.Teanau Tuiono: Is the Minister confident that Immigration New Zealand conducts investigations into potential migrant exploitation before deporting overstayers?Hon DAVID PARKER: I don't have detailed information on that. I do have confidence in the department but if the member wants to put down a question in writing to the Minister of Immigration I'm sure he would be happy to reply.