20168 (2026). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister of Immigration

20168 (2026). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister of Immigration: What assessment, if any, has been undertaken regarding the likelihood that New Zealand citizens or residents may be asked to identify themselves during immigration compliance operations under the proposed amendments to section 280 of the Immigration Act 2009?

Hon Erica Stanford: I am advised that no specific assessment have been undertaken on the likelihood of New Zealand citizens and residents being asked for identity-based information under the proposed amendments to section 280 of the Immigration Act 2009, as operation of this power is highly circumstance-dependent. Immigration Officers will only be able to use this power when they already have a legitimate reason to be at the site or premises and they have a reasonable basis, based on what they see at the time, that the person might be in breach/have breached their visa conditions. This requires a triggering behaviour of some kind from the person they encounter.