Immigration NZ to close public counters

Immigration advisors and lawyers are skeptical the technology is in place to cope with proposed changes to New Zealand's overseas visa systems. In September, Immigration New Zealand sought submissions on its plan to close 12 of its 17 overseas visa processing centres and bring the work back to New Zealand, saving more than $20 million a year in the process. The chair of the Association for Migration and Investment, June Ranson, says consultants have been told by Immigration New Zealand the change is being made possible by sophisticated new technology. But she told our reporter Catherine Hutton the industry isn't convinced.