26 Feb 2020

Immigration Minister delegates more decision-making

From Checkpoint, 5:45 pm on 26 February 2020

The Immigration Minister is delegating more of his decision making to officials in the wake of the botched handling of Czech drug runner Karel Sroubek's deportation appeal.

Iain Lees-Galloway initially granted Sroubek residence, before reversing the decision and ordering his deportation.

But there is concern that passing on the decision-making takes away an independent check, and an avenue for cases that fall outside normal guidelines.

RNZ immigration reporter Gill Bonnett has more.