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.