Some immigration lawyers say crucial decisions on deportations and visas are being left in the hands of public servants, after being delegated by immigration ministers.
Immigration New Zealand said the change, made in November, aimed to reduce the 661 cases the minister was involved with in the previous year, and to streamline decision-making.
Officials now decide on appeals from residents who have been in jail, which account for 70 percent of deportation cases referred to the minister.
The officials also exercise discretionary powers the minister used to have for granting visas in cases where people do not fit immigration criteria.
The lawyers said that left Immigration New Zealand policing its own decisions.
Immigration lawyer Richard Small said Pacific families were bearing the brunt of the change in decision-making processes on deportations and visas.
He said it meant families fighting to stay in the country were denied fair, fresh consideration of their cases.
"And we end up in a ping pong game with the Ombudsman saying that the decision is unreasonable and no doubt the plan is to exhaust the people."
The Labour Party is accusing the Government of being lazy in allowing crucial decisions on deportations and visas to be delegated by immigration ministers.
Labour's immigration spokesperson, Sue Moroney, said the move was unfair and unacceptable, because it left Immigration New Zealand to police its own decisions.
She said ministers had taken up this important role for years, and to have the incumbent now say the workload was too high was laziness.
The department said delegated decision-makers were senior, experienced officials.
