Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse says he does not expect any further applications from Afghan interpreters seeking to live in New Zealand.
The Government on Friday announced it was granted residency to nine more interpreters and is arranging transport for the men, and 26 of their family members, before they begin the resettlement process.
Michael Woodhouse. Photo: NATIONAL PARTY
The interpreters worked with the Defence Force in the Bamiyan Province of Afghanistan and, with their families, will be allowed to live in New Zealand for their own safety.
New Zealand resettled 30 Afghan interpreters and 64 family members in April this year under a package agreed by the Cabinet in December 2012.
Mr Woodhouse says there are no more residency applications from Afghan interpreters being considered, and he does not expect any more to be lodged.
"We think we've covered the field, and also it's quite well known what the offer was, and had there been any others in the pipeline I would have known about them by now."
Journalist Jon Stephenson, a long-time critic of the Government over Afghanistan, fears another six interpreters he knows of who worked for the most recent Special Air Service (SAS) deployment won't be allowed into New Zealand.
Sayed Younus, one of the interpreters flown to New Zealand in April, is pleased more are being given the same chance. Mr Younus said he knows the nine interpreters well, as they lived in the same barracks, along with New Zealand personnel.
