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Will Immigration New Zealand officers be required to record the grounds relied upon when requesting identification or nationality information under the proposed amendments section 280 of the Immigration Act 2009, and if so, how?

Answered Question 20164 (2026)
Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • Will Immigration New Zealand officers be required to record the grounds relied upon when requesting identification or nationality information under the proposed amendments section 280 of the Immigration Act 2009, and if so, how?

Answered by

Hon Erica Stanford

Member for East Coast Bays · National Party · Minister of Immigration

Answer

I am advised that all operational activity must be supported by contemporaneous notes and recorded in INZ systems to ensure transparency and accountability. An immigration officer exercises powers under section 280 will be required to record in writing the specific circumstances that gave rise to “good cause to suspect” someone may be liable for deportation, turnaround and/or breaching their visa conditions.