8. Question No. 8—ImmigrationIBRAHIM OMER (Labour) to the Minister of ImmigrationQuestion No. 8—Immigration8. IBRAHIM OMER (Labour) to the Minister of Immigration: What recent action has the Government taken to support victims of the war in Ukraine?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Immigration): New Zealand stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine in the face of Russian barbarism and one of the important areas in which we have provided that support is through our immigration policy. And so last week I was pleased to announce that the Government will be expanding the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa to ensure Ukrainians in New Zealand can continue to bring their family members here as the war continues. The policy allows eligible family members to be granted a two-year visa with work rights or study rights if they're under 18. This recognises New Zealand's ongoing commitment to support Ukraine over a year on from Russia first launching its illegal invasion. We've also made a number of other changes to the settings to support the intent of the visa and ensure those looking to sponsor family members have as great a certainty as possible about how the process works. Ibrahim Omer: How long do individuals now have to make an application under the Special Ukraine Visa?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: The window for expressions of interest to be submitted was due to close on 15 March this year. This has now been extended by one year to 15 March 2024. We're also extending the period in which someone granted a visa must travel to New Zealand from nine months to 12 months noting that securing travel from Ukraine to New Zealand can be difficult to organise given the current situation on the ground.Ibrahim Omer: How is the Government making it easier to sponsor relatives to come to New Zealand?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Rather than relying on one family sponsor as per the current policy each application will now have a nominating family member who meets the New Zealand and Ukrainian residency requirements and an acceptable sponsor who will take on financial responsibility for the applicant so that in some instances someone who isn't related to the applicant can take on the financial responsibility for the claimant. This makes for a much more flexible regime in terms of New Zealanders who might want to support a Ukrainian person to seek shelter in New Zealand. The sponsor whether it is a family member or another individual will remain responsible for arranging and funding travel to New Zealand as well as accommodation and living costs once they arrive.Ibrahim Omer: What other changes has the Government made to make the settings of the Special Ukraine Visa?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: We've also broadened the criteria for those who can sponsor a family member to include those with Ukrainian heritage rather than just those who were born in Ukraine or are Ukrainian citizens. This will effectively increase the pool of people who are able to sponsor someone to seek shelter in New Zealand. Those who can be sponsored under the category is also expanding to include other adult family members who have lived with this family for a substantial period of time. This could be aunts uncles grandchildren nieces and nephews first cousins and step siblings. Together these changes reaffirm New Zealand's commitment to supporting Ukraine and her people at this most difficult of times.