Pacific islanders hit by visa scam in New Zealand
Updated
A police investigation is underway in New Zealand after hundreds of Tongans and Samoans were conned into buying fake visas. The inquiry is being hampered by the fact that many of the Pacific Islanders who've lost money have been reluctant to make a complaint as they may have overstayed their original visas.
Presenter: Kate McPherson
Speaker: Su'a William Sio, Mangere MP
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MCPHERSON: Police are investigating a recent meeting which is believed to conned Pacific Islanders into paying hundreds of dollars for fake visas. Mangere MP Su'a William Sio is monitoring the situation closely.
SIO: The meeting was attended by mainly Pacific Islanders, Samoans and Tongans and they were told at the meeting that if they paid $500 NZ, they would receive a visa stamp or permanent residency stamp on their passport, so we're just sending out a strong warning to the local community that that is a scam.
MCPHERSON: The Maori group thought to be behind the scam has claimed political affiliation with the Maori party in New Zealand, something the Maori party denies. Mr Sio a Labor party member says the rogue group are scam artists.
SIO: The actions by this rogue group are so despicable because they're preying on desperate people, that's really low and I've already had discussions with the Maori party's Dr Peter Sharples and I'm very clear in my mind that the Maori party are not involved in this, that this is a rogue Maori group who's thinking is not all there but they're scam artists.
MCPHERSON: In a statememt, Waikato police say they're investigating a meeting which took place in Hamilton . Police say the meeting may have been part of a large fake visa scam. Su'a William Sio says he is discussing with police the option for those who've been taken advantage of.
SIO: With the people being duped into this scam now finding themselves losing $500 and if they are a overstayer, then I suspect that they might be fearful of going to the police to lay a complaint because of their own illegal status in New Zealand, so I've asked that if there are people who find themselves caught up in this scam then I am prepared to assist, facilitating any complaints they have with the police.
MCPHERSON: Police are reminding the public that Immigration New Zealand is the only legitimate body in the country which issues visas and permanent residences.
