Ricardo Menéndez March
from Yours Politically - Sanjesh Narain Hosted by Tarana
Green Party Criticises ACT’s Proposed Permanent Residency Changes Green Party immigration spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March says it appears ACT is competing with New Zealand First to see who can come up with the tougher immigration policy.His comments come after ACT announced a proposal to introduce a physical-presence requirement for New Zealand permanent residents. ACT immigration spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar says the policy would “bring balance” to the immigration system and ensure that visa holders have a genuine and ongoing commitment to New Zealand. Under ACT’s proposal, the existing Permanent Resident Visa category would be removed. Existing Resident Visa holders would instead receive a five-year travel facility, replacing the current two-year initial travel condition. To maintain that travel facility, residents would need to spend at least 730 days—two years—in New Zealand during any rolling five-year period. The days would not have to be consecutive. ACT says exemptions would apply to certain people working overseas for New Zealand employers, accompanying family members, military personnel serving overseas, people with a New Zealand citizen spouse, and those with compelling humanitarian circumstances. Speaking to Radio Tarana host Sanjesh Narain, Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March criticised ACT’s proposal, saying the party should focus more on the issues that are important to Kiwis rather than pursuing tougher immigration policies.
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