RefNZ News

Recent Developments in NZ Refugee Law


Last updated: 22 December 2011
 

RefNZ News provides a chronological summary of noteworthy news and developments in New Zealand refugee law. Use the Index below to link to summaries of interest.

The Index below contains 2011 News items.
Click here for 2010 News items
Click here for 2009 News items
Click here for 2008 News items
Click here for 2007 News items
Click here for 2006 News items
Click here for 2005 News items
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Click here for 1999 News items
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Index

16 December 2011  Refugee Council of Australia issues December Bulletin

23 November 2011  Asylum Aid publishes November Women's Asylum News

16 November 2011  Refugee Council of Australia issues November Bulletin

25 October 2011  Asylum Aid publishes October Women's Asylum News

20 October 2011  NZ immigration officials now have ability to store photographs and to require fingerprints

20 October 2011  Statutory provisions authorising the collection of biometric information come into force on 20 October 2011

11 October 2011  Refugee Council of Australia issues October Bulletin

21 September 2011  NZ ratifies the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography

12 September 2011  Asylum Aid publishes August/September Women's Asylum News

2 September 2011  Integrated Targeting and Operations Centre opened

31 August 2011  High Court of Australia rules that Australia-Malaysia refugee swap agreement invalid

30 August 2011  50th Anniversary of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, 1961

11 & 12 August 2011  Annual Immigration Law conference

11 August 2011  Papua New Guinea agrees to reopen Australia asylum camp

28 July 2011  60th Anniversary of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951

22 July 2011  Asylum Aid publishes July Women's Asylum News

14 & 15 July 2011  Commencement of Workshop on Protection Against Deportation to Torture

14 July 2011  Ministerial inquiry to consider the operation of Foreign Charter Vessels

12 July 2011  NZ Prime Minister says Sri Lankan boatpeople have no chance of being recognised by New Zealand as refugees

1 July 2011  Legal Services Act 2011 comes into force

30 June 2011  NZLS Seminar Developments in Immigration Law

28 June 2011  Asylum Aid publishes May/June Women's Asylum News

24 June 2011  Workshop on Protection Against Deportation to Torture

23-25 June 2011  Istanbul Protocol - National Training Event

20 June 2011  World Refugee Day

18 June 2011  Auckland Refugee Family Trust dinner

7 June 2011  Refugee Council of Australia issues June Bulletin

7 June 2011  Appointments to new Legal Aid Tribunal announced

23 May 2011  Refugee Legal Aid - experience and competence requirements for refugee legal aid lawyers published

17 May 2011  Leading Australian academic challenges proposed Australia-Malaysia refugee swap

13 May 2011  Istanbul Protocol - national training event at Auckland on 23, 24 and 25 June 2011

13 May 2011  Refugee Council of Australia issues May Bulletin

1 May 2011  Legal Services Act 2011 changes how lawyers are approved to provide legal aid services

21 April 2011  Asylum Aid publishes April Women's Asylum News

15 April 2011  New paper on Country Information and Evidence Assessment in New Zealand

6 April 2011  Refugee Council of Australia issues April Bulletin

3 April 2011  New Zealand-Canada agreement to check fingerprint details

28 March 2011  Asylum Aid publishes March Women's Asylum News

4 March 2011  Refugee Council of Australia issues March Bulletin

23 February 2011  Asylum Aid publishes February Women's Asylum News

18 January 2011  Asylum Aid publishes December/January Women's Asylum News



16 December 2011 The latest Refugee Council of Australia Bulletin for members and supporters (16 December 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/news/bulletins/RCOA_bulletin_111216.pdf

23 November 2011 The Women's Asylum News (Issue 106, November 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/publications/173/WAN_November.pdf. This e-bulletin is published by the Women's Project at Asylum Aid.

16 November 2011 The latest Refugee Council of Australia Bulletin for members and supporters (16 November 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://refugeecouncil.org.au/news/bulletins/RCOA_bulletin_111116.pdf

25 October 2011 The Women's Asylum News (Issue 105, October 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/publications/172/WAN_October.pdf. This e-bulletin is published by the Women's Project at Asylum Aid.

20 October 2011 From 20 October 2011 immigration officials will have ability to store photos of all non-New Zealanders and will have extended powers to require fingerprints in some circumstances. The Minister of Immigration, Jonathan Coleman, says that extending the use of biometrics will strengthen New Zealand's border security and enable Immigration New Zealand to speed up visa application processing because biometrics provide better tools for confirming the identity of individuals. The changes will protect people from identity theft and prevent the misuse of passports or visas by fraudsters and criminals.

New Zealand is part of a Five Country Conference biometric programme involving the immigration agencies of New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. This enables the various agencies to share biometric data to help confirm identities. All biometrics are handled with strict rules around access of data. A privacy impact assessment has been conducted in close consultation with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and is publicly available on the website of Immigration New Zealand <www.immigration.govt.nz>.

[Jonathan Coleman, Biometric boost for border security, Media Statement, 19 October 2011]

20 October 2011 The Immigration Act 2009 Commencement Order 2011 (SR2011/316) brings into force, on 20 October 2011, those provisions of the Immigration Act 2009 which authorise the collection of biometric information from visa applicants, applicants for entry permission, persons other than New Zealand citizens leaving New Zealand and persons an immigration officer has good cause to suspect is a person who is liable for deportation or turnaround, not complying with, or is materially breaching, the conditions of his or her visa, is undertaking work or a course of study that he or she is not entitled to under the Act, or has obtained a visa under a fraudulent identity. If a person refuses to allow an immigration officer to collect biometric information, the officer may apply to a District Court Judge for a compulsion order.

11 October 2011 The latest Refugee Council of Australia Bulletin for members and supporters (11 October 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/news/bulletins/RCOA_bulletin_111011.pdf

21 September 2011 New Zealand has ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography which criminalises these serious violations of children's rights and stresses the need for international cooperation to combat these violations and for public awareness campaigns. It was adopted in 2000 and New Zealand joins 157 other countries that have ratified the Optional Protocol.

New Zealand has also ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel which was adopted in 2005. The parent 1994 Convention criminalises attacks against UN peacekeeping personnel. The Protocol expands the Convention's coverage to protect personnel engaged in peace-building and conflict prevention. New Zealand joins 25 other countries which have ratified the Optional Protocol.

[Simon Power, "NZ ratifies treaties on rights of child, peacekeeping", Media Statement, 21 September 2011]

12 September 2011 The Women's Asylum News (Issue 104, August/September 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/publications/170/WAN_August_September_2011.pdf. This e-bulletin is published by the Women's Project at Asylum Aid.

2 September 2011 The government has officially opened the Customs Integrated Targeting and Operations Centre (ITOC) in Auckland. The ITOC is staffed by the key border agencies of Immigration New Zealand, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Maritime New Zealand and Customs and will "enhance the government's ability to protect the safety and security of New Zealanders through more effective border control 24-hours a day". The Minister of Customs, Maurice Williamson, also says that everything needed to determine risks presented by people, goods or craft are now brought together at the ITOC. New Zealand is the first country outside the United States to trial the Automated Targeting System - Global (ATS-G), an automated targeting tool to screen for passengers posing a potential risk.

[Maurice Williamson, "Official opening of Customs Integrated Targeting and Operations Centre", Media statement, 2 September 2011]

31 August 2011 Today the High Court has held invalid the declaration by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship that Malaysia is a country to which asylum-seekers who entered Australia at Christmas Island can be taken for processing of their asylum claims. After an expedited hearing before the Full Bench, the Court by majority made permanent the injunctions that had been granted earlier and restrained the Minister from taking to Malaysia two asylum-seekers who arrived at Christmas Island, as part of a larger group, less than four weeks ago. The Court also decided that an unaccompanied asylum-seeker who is under 18 years of age may not lawfully be taken from Australia without the Minister's written consent under the Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act 1946 (Cth).

The Court held that under the Migration Act the Minister cannot validly declare a country (as a country to which asylum-seekers can be taken for processing) unless that country is legally bound to meet three criteria. The country must be legally bound by international law or its own domestic law to provide access for asylum-seekers to effective procedures for assessing their need for protection; provide protection for asylum-seekers pending determination of their refugee status; and provide protection for persons given refugee status pending their voluntary return to their country of origin or their resettlement in another country. In addition to these criteria, the Migration Act requires that the country meet certain human rights standards in providing that protection. The Court also held that the Minister has no power under the Migration Act to remove from Australia asylum-seekers whose claims for protection have not been determined. On the facts which the parties had agreed, the Court held that Malaysia is not legally bound to provide the access and protections the Migration Act requires for a valid declaration. Malaysia is not a party to the Refugee Convention or its Protocol. The Arrangement which the Minister signed with the Malaysian Minister for Home Affairs on 25 July 2011 said expressly that it was not legally binding. The parties agreed that Malaysia is not legally bound to, and does not, recognise the status of refugees in its domestic law. They agreed that Malaysia does not itself undertake any activities related to the reception, registration, documentation or status determination of asylum-seekers and refugees. Rather, the parties agreed Malaysia permits the UNHCR to undertake those activities in Malaysia and allows asylum-seekers to remain in Malaysia while UNHCR does so.

[Plaintiff M70/2011 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2011] HCA 32 (31 August 2011)]

30 August 2011  50th Anniversary of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, 1961

11 & 12 August 2011 The annual Immigration Law conference sponsored by LexisNexis will be held at Auckland on 11 and 12 August 2011. As at 27 May 2011 the programme had not been released.

11 August 2011 The Papua New Guinea cabinet has approved an Australian proposal to reopen the immigration detention centre on the remote Manus Island. The centre will be run and paid for by the Australian federal government. Earlier this week the High Court of Australia stopped authorities from deporting a boat-load of asylum-seekers to Malaysia until a full hearing could be held.

[BBC, "Papua New Guinea agrees to reopen Australia asylum camp", Thursday, 11 August 2011]
28 July 2011 2011 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951 (28 July 1951) and the 50th Anniversary of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (30 August 1961). For further information on the commemorations planned by the UNHCR, including the commemorations Newsletter (May 2011), see the UNHCR website at <www.unhcr.org/pages/4d22e8a26.html>

22 July 2011 The Women's Asylum News (Issue 103, July 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/publications/167/WAN_July_2011.pdf. This e-bulletin is published by the Women's Project at Asylum Aid.

14 & 15 July 2011 On these two days a workshop will be held to examine the new complementary protection regime introduced by Parts 5 and 7 of the Immigration Act 2009 and which prohibits the deportation of non-citizens who face a risk of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in their home countries. For further detail refer to the entry for 24 June 2011.

14 July 2011 A Ministerial inquiry will consider the operation of Foreign Charter Vessels (FCVs) in New Zealand's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters. While the full terms of reference for the inquiry have yet to be established the Labour Minister, Kate Wilkinson, says reports alleging the failure of some FCVs to comply with proper employment requirements, including crew working conditions and vessel safety standards imposed by New Zealand had raised the concern of the government. A decision had been made that a Ministerial inquiry was the appropriate course of action as a number of Ministerial portfolios had an interest in FCV engagement and operation. Fisheries, labour, immigration, transport as well as foreign affairs and trade all have an involvement in this area. Cabinet will consider full terms of reference for the inquiry, independent candidates to lead the inquiry, resources and inquiry reporting time-frames over the next month.

[Phil Heatley, Kate Wilkinson, "Ministerial inquiry into Foreign Charter Vessels", Media Statement, 14 July 2011]
12 July 2011 It is reported that a boat carrying about 85 Sri Lankans has been intercepted by the Indonesian navy. Photographs show people on the boat waving New Zealand flags and holdings signs saying they wish to live in New Zealand. Asked if there was any chance that the Sri Lankans could be recognised as refugees by New Zealand, the Prime Minister, John Key, is reported as saying "No". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reported as saying that it is aware of the situation but has made no further comment. Green Party MP, Keith Locke, is reported as saying that asylum-seekers who arrive in New Zealand should be assessed case by case and, if found to be genuine refugees, should be allowed to stay. New Zealand had a legal responsibility under the Refugee Convention and it was wrong for the Prime Minister to be seen to be taking an antagonistic view of asylum-seekers. Mr Key is further reported as saying that he did not know what would happen to the boat, but it was inevitable that more asylum-seekers would take to the oceans and come to New Zealand. "A very simple message to them is: they are not welcome here", Mr Key is reported as saying.

[Derek Cheng, "You're not welcome, refugees told", NZ Herald, Tuesday, July 12, 2011, p A4]
1 July 2011 The Legal Services Act 2011 comes into force on 1 July 2011 by virtue of the Legal Services Act 2011 Commencement Order 2011 (SR2011/143). Exceptions are ss 9, 18(7)(g), 21(7) and 114(1)(s), (t) and (u). Two related regulations also come into force on the same date. First, the Legal Services Regulations 2011 (SR2011/144) which replace the 2006 regulations repealed by the Legal Services Act 2011. Second, the Legal Services (Quality Assurance) Regulations 2011 (SR2011/145).

30 June 2011 The NZLS Seminar Developments in Immigration Law will be presented at Auckland on 30 June 2011 from 1pm to 5pm at Rydges Harbourview. The seminar will also be presented at Wellington on 29 June 2011 and at Christchurch on 28 June 2011. This seminar will provide a comprehensive overview of the changes to the immigration legislation and offer practical information on the impact it will have on the advice practitioners offer their clients. The presenters are Peter Moses, Barrister, Auckland and Fraser Richards, Department of Labour, Wellington. For registration enquiries telephone Freephone 0800 333 111.

28 June 2011 The Women's Asylum News (Issue 102, May/June 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/publications/164/WAN_May_June_2011.pdf. This e-bulletin is published by the Women's Project at Asylum Aid.

24 June 2011 ADLS Workshop on protection against deportation to torture. It is a fundamental principle of international law that individuals not be sent to countries where they are at risk of torture or of cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment or punishment.  In November 2010 this principle was written into New Zealand domestic law by Parts 5 and 7 of the Immigration Act 2009.  It is now possible to resist deportation from New Zealand not only on the grounds prescribed in the Refugee Convention but also on the "complementary" grounds in Article 3 of the Convention against Torture and Articles 6 and 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  Alongside the refugee and complementary protection regimes the longstanding humanitarian appeal remains.

This intensive two day workshop will provide an indepth examination of the new complementary protection regime in both its domestic and international settings.  Its relationship to the refugee and humanitarian regimes will also be covered.

The workshop will combine legal analysis with practical case studies.  It has been designed not only for lawyers experienced in representing refugee and protection claimants but also for those wanting to expand into this new area of practice, for pro bono lawyers, for licensed immigration advisers, for human rights advocates and for NGOs.  The workshop will build on the UNHCR workshop held in March 2011.

The following key areas will be covered: The presenter is Rodger Haines QC, Adjunct Lecturer in Law, Faculty of Law, University of Auckland and former member of the Refugee Status Appeals Authority (1991-2010)

The Workshop is to be held on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 July 2011 from 9am to 5pm at the ADLS Chancery Chambers. The cost of attending the Workshop is $395 plus GST to members of the Auckland District Law Society and $495 plus GST to non-members. The price includes lunch, morning and afternoon teas on both days.

[ADLS LawNews Issue 22, 24 June 2011]
23-25 June 2011 The first New Zealand training workshop on the application of the Istanbul Protocol will be delivered for legal, medical and mental health professionals on 23, 24 and 25 June 2011. Cross refer the entry for 13 May 2011.

20 June 2011 First marked in 2001, World Refugee Day is held everywhere on 20 June. Tens of thousands of people around the world take time to recognise and applaud the contribution of forcibly displaced people throughout the world. The annual commemoration is marked by a variety of events in more than 100 countries, involving government officials, humanitarian aid workers, celebrities, civilians and the forcibly displaced themselves. More information on World Refugee Day, UNHCR and refugee issues can be found at www.unhcr.org.au. In Australia Refugee Week (June 19 to 25) is coordinated by the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA). For their Refugee Week Newsletter (May 2011) follow the attached link http://www.refugeeweek.org.au/

18 June 2011 To celebrate World Refugee Day, the 60th Anniversary of the Refugee Convention and the first year of the Auckland Refugee Family Trust, the ARFT will hold a fundraising dinner on 18 June 2011. Hana Schofield and Atka Reid, authors of Goodbye Sarajevo, will speak and there will be entertainment and food prepared by the Auckland Refugee Community Coalition, partners of the ARFT for this event which starts at 7pm at the Good Shepherd School Hall, 30 Telford Street, Balmoral (off Dominion Road). Tickets are $25. To purchase or make a donation either direct credit ARFT 38 9010 070 4176 00 with your surname as reference and number of tickets required and email jwakim@xtra.co.nz; or post cheques with surname, number of tickets required and contact details to: The Treasurer, ARFT, PO Box 47008, Ponsonby. Tickets will be distributed at the door. Alcohol free drinks will be sold.

7 June 2011 The latest Refugee Council of Australia Bulletin for members and supporters (7 June 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/news/bulletins/RCOA_bulletin_110607.pdf

7 June 2011 The Minister of Justice has announced the fourteen members of the new Legal Aid Tribunal which comes into existence on 1 July 2011. The tribunal replaces the Legal Aid Review Panel and will review decisions made by the Legal Services Commissioner.

[Simon Power, "Appointments to new Legal Aid Tribunal announced",  Media Statement, 7 June 2011]
23 May 2011 In anticipation of the Legal Services Act 2011 coming into force on 1 July 2011, the Legal Services (Quality Assurance) Regulations 2011(SR2011/145) prescribe the criteria to be met by a person applying for approval to provide legal aid services under the Act and also prescribe the conditions the Secretary for Justice may impose on such an approval. The Schedule to the Regulations stipulate the experience and competence requirements for (inter alia) refugee or immigration proceedings. It is provided in clause 12 of the Schedule that an applicant seeking approval to provide legal aid services for any refugee or immigration proceedings must have:

(a)   At least 18 months' recent experience working on refugee and protected persons cases; and
(b)   Had substantial and active involvement in at least 5 cases at the Refugee Status Branch level; and
(c)   Actively participated in at least 1 proceeding before the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, the Deportation Review Tribunal, the Refugee Status Appeals Authority or the Removal Review Authority.

Regulations 5 to 9 set out the standard qualifying criteria to be met by legal aid providers across all areas of practice.

17 May 2011 Dr Michelle Foster, Associate Professor at the Melbourne Law School and Director of the Research Programme in International Refugee Law, Institute for International Law and Humanities, has challenged the proposed Australia-Malaysia refugee swap, pointing out that the policy, if put into effect, would further tarnish Australia's international reputation and place it at serious risk of violating its international obligations. She warns that the proposed cooperation agreement must not operate as a facade behind which violations of international law are permitted to take place.

[Michelle Foster "Troubled Waters Lie Ahead" The Age, May 17, 2011 <http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/troubled-waters-lie-ahead-20110516-1ept5.html>]
13 May 2011 On 23, 24 and 25 June 2011 at Auckland the first New Zealand training workshop on the application of the Istanbul Protocol will be delivered for legal, medical and mental health professionals. The Istanbul Protocol was a landmark step in establishing an effective process in securing the rights of victims of torture to protection, rehabilitation, and reparation. In 2003 the United Nations Commission on Human Rights introduced to governments the principles of the Istanbul Protocol as a useful tool in addressing and preventing torture. This international Convention contains detailed procedures and practical guidelines for medical, mental health and legal specialists on how to recognise and document evidence that may assist in legal process and in rehabilitation and in relation to standards which should be referenced and followed by practitioners. The training leaders for this three day workshop are Dr Önder Özkalipçi, Forensic Physician, International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, Geneva; Professor Thomas Wenzel (Consultant Psychiatrist), Secretary-General, International Academy of Law and Mental Health, Copenhagen; Alice Verghese, Head of Training, IRCT, Copenhagen; Rodger Haines QC, Adjunct Lecturer in Immigration Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Auckland and Dr Martin Reeves, Medical Practitioner with the Auckland Regional Public Health Service Refugee Medical Centre, Mangere. To register contact Joyce Wei Liu at RASNZ Administration on joyce@rasnz.co.nz or for enquiries telephone Joyce on 09-270-0870.

13 May 2011 The latest Refugee Council of Australia Bulletin for members and supporters (12 May 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/news/bulletins/RCOA_bulletin_110512.pdf

1 May 2011 The Legal Services Act 2011 which commences on 1 July 2011 introduces a new framework for all legal aid lawyers and will change how lawyers are approved to provide legal aid services, and how contracts are offered and managed. The framework includes the introduction of practice standards, and all legal aid lawyers will be contractually obliged to meet these standards.

Key changes for listed legal aid lawyers are:
 The key changes for new lawyers (ie those not listed at 1 July 2011) are:
 In addition, the Quality of Service Regulations also take effect from 1 July 2011. These Regulations establish the entry criteria for all lawyers providing legal aid services and the procedures for the Selection Committees and the Review Authority. Lawyers will need to complete an application form and include supporting information that demonstrates that they meet the entry criteria for each type of legal aid service they want to provide. Lawyers will be approved to provide services in particular areas of legal aid and for a fixed period of time. When their approval is granted, lawyers will receive a letter that sets out the length of their approval. At the end of this period, lawyers will need to apply for re-approval so that they can continue to provide legal aid services. There are approximately 2,700 legal aid lawyers and they will all need to apply for approval under the new legislation. Generally applications will be processed in order of the date they are received. Lawyers who want to get their approval early should submit their application soon after 1 July 2011.

All legal aid lawyers listed at 30 June 2011 who have a valid practising certificate will be issued transitional approval by the Secretary for Justice until 31 December 2011. Lawyers that apply for approval by 31 December 2011 will have their transitional approval extended until their application has been processed and the Secretary for Justice has made a decision about whether or not to grant approval. Listed lawyers that do not file an application for approval by 31 December 2011 will have their contract for services cancelled and their legally aided clients will be re-assigned to other approved legal aid lawyers. Lawyers can continue to apply for approval from 31 December 2011 but they will do so on the same basis as a new lawyer. Without a transitional approval they cannot be contracted to provide legal aid services.

For full details of the new quality framework for legal aid lawyers reference should be made to the LSA e-News Issue 8, May 2011and to the LSA document Introducing the Quality Framework. Information on the Legal Services Agency and the Ministry of Justice websites will be updated regularly and updates on the framework will be included in the LSA e-News.

21 April 2011 The Women's Asylum News (Issue 101, April 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/publications/160/WAN_April_2011.pdf. This e-bulletin is published by the Women's Project at Asylum Aid.

15 April 2011 At a conference for refugee judges in Budapest, 13-15 April 2011 Evidence and Country Information (COI) in the Practice of European Courts, Rodger Haines QC has delivered a paper "Country Information and Evidence Assessment in New Zealand". The paper aims to provide an overview of the way in which country information has been used and assessed in the New Zealand refugee status determination system at the appellate level. The paper is to be found on the Reference page of this website.

6 April 2011 The latest Refugee Council of Australia Bulletin for members and supporters (6 April 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/docs/newsltrs/RCOA_bulletin_110406.pdf

3 April 2011 New Zealand and Canada have signed an agreement to check fingerprint and other biometric details of travellers. The agreement is part of a Five Country Conference (FCC) biometric programme involving the immigration agencies of New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Minister of Immigration says that New Zealand officials will now have greater tools to detect identity fraud and to process genuine travellers faster by checking fingerprint details, when needed, with their Canadian counterparts. Immigration New Zealand signed similar agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom last year. The aim is to identify people using false identities. The Minister says that organised crime groups and illegal migrants are increasingly using identity and passport fraud to evade detection. The FCC agreement provides greater confidence that non-genuine immigration cases will be refused through the improved detection of fraudulent identity and immigration claims. Fingerprints of asylum claimants and people awaiting deportation who refuse to provide identity information may be checked. Fingerprints of the citizens of FCC countries will not be shared. All arrangements conform with the respective Privacy Acts of member countries.

[Jonathan Coleman, "Better border protection for New Zealand", Media Statement, 3 April 2011]

28 March 2011 The Women's Asylum News (Issue 100, March 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/publications/157/WAN_March_2011.pdf. This e-bulletin is published by the Women's Project at Asylum Aid.

4 March 2011 The latest Refugee Council of Australia Bulletin for members and supporters (4 March 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/docs/newsltrs/RCOA_bulletin_110304.pdf

23 February 2011 The Women's Asylum News (Issue 99, February 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/publications/154/WAN_February2011.pdf. This e-bulletin is published by the Women's Project at Asylum Aid.

18 January 2011 The Women's Asylum News (Issue 98, December 2010/January 2011) can be accessed by following this link http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/publications/153/WAN_Dec_Jan.pdf. This e-bulletin is published by the Women's Project at Asylum Aid.

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