| What does your job as an Immigration Officer entail? | | | | What makes this job exciting and worthwhile? |
| I profile all passengers or people wanting to immigrate | | | | The ability to protect New Zealand’s borders |
| to New Zealand and identify potential high risk | | | | through my direct observations and actions makes it |
| passengers. We have the ability to prevent entry to | | | | worthwhile. New Zealand has no borders, so |
| passengers who don’t meet entry requirements. | | | | protecting the country is a lot easier, as the only way |
| We use sophisticated IT systems to track passengers | | | | in/out is by air or water. |
| prior to them arriving in NZ. We have various contacts | | | | You’re originally from South Africa and NZ is your |
| all over the world that we use to assist us in | | | | adoptive country. How do your experiences influence |
| communicating with passengers. We also assist airlines | | | | your job? |
| to process passengers flying in to NZ.. | | | | I’ve only been in New Zealand for 2 years. I was a |
| Do you conduct any interviews with potential | | | | Superintendent with the South African Police Service. I |
| migrants? | | | | managed to obtain residence prior to immigrating to |
| We interact with passengers onshore in NZ. This could | | | | New Zealand. South Africans who immigrate and go |
| be for a variety of reasons which include immigration | | | | about arriving in New Zealand the wrong way |
| matters relating to visas and interviews to determine | | | | frustrate me. Many South Africans aren’t granted |
| passengers visiting intentions, tracking passengers who | | | | entry because they don’t meet entry requirements |
| have overstayed their welcome and who are returned | | | | and provide misleading information on arrival. This |
| to their port of origin. | | | | cannot influence my decisions. Every person is |
| What are your working conditions like? Do you use | | | | assessed against entry requirements irrelevant of |
| any equipment? | | | | where they come from. |
| My working environment is very secure and access is | | | | What do you wish migrants would realise about your |
| strictly regulated. We have some of the most | | | | job? What would you like them to know? |
| advanced IT systems available. Our documentation | | | | Migrants should ensure they’ve done their |
| examination equipment is state of the art. | | | | homework prior to arriving in NZ. If you arrive |
| Have you had significant experiences dealing with | | | | unprepared you may be in for a bit of a surprise. |
| migrants? | | | | Don’t provide misleading information. 9 times out of |
| I encounter the usual migrants who arrive with barely | | | | 10 you’ll be caught out. You may have spent a lot |
| enough money to buy a hamburger. As well as the | | | | of money to gain absolutely nothing. |
| odd mental patient who believed they were | | | | Complete a free online assessment, to find out if you |
| persecuted by law enforcement etc. | | | | are elegible to migrate to New Zealand. |