Life noticeably changed in  NZ  about mid 2018 as State Policing became more noticeably and Freedom Of Speech  began to become shut down. When it was leaked out to the public that the NZ Govt was going to adopt the UN Global Compact Of Migration

Police camera’s in the faces of those whom opposed the Compact from being adopted by NZ Government. Then the censorship of free speech became noticeable. Police camera’s in our faces and Police warning some of us that spoke up “that we must not organize or attend a rally- protest”. I was one of those people. Because I had put together a Parliamentary Petition opposing the UNGCM. Facebook was the only method I had to raise signatures

Eventually reaching 5,000 signatures (Although people were still adding their signatures the signature count was not increasing. After several complaints to Parliament they responded that there was a ‘computer glitch’. Eventually 6521 signatures were counted on the petition which went to the Select Committee. The UN Global Compact was documented as relating to the Global Agenda 2030 SDGs-

During my research in 2018 what grabbed my attention mostly was two preplanned meeting that were to be held only 3days apart in the same location (Marrakech Morocco) . On the 8th December 2018 the Mayors Mitigation Council had organized the 5th Global Mayoral Forum and 3 days later there was a gathering  to launch the UN Global Compact of Migration

The Marrakech Mayoral Forum  included the participants of 150 Mayors from around the world  on Human Mobility- Migration and Development. Both migration gathering were held during UN Migration Week. The Mayoral Forums focus being on ‘City Leadership in Implementing the UN Global Compact of Migrations that was to be launched 3 days later in the same location (11th December 2018)

Since the Mayoral Forum 76 Mayors adopted the Marrakech Mayors Declaration ‘Cities Working Together For Migrants & Refugees’ which called for a full & formal recognition of the role of local authorities (Loval Govts) in its implementation with follow up reviews of both Compacts. Described as ‘promoting  ‘inclusive’ safe sustainable societies.

Where  Migration remains primarily an URBAN and Local Phenomenon (UN Urban Human Habitat) The New Urban Agenda. (Cities will shove Global Agenda 2030 across the line through Mass Migration clearly rang warning bells in my head). The message given at the mayoral Forum was:-                            “There is no delivery of the Global Compact Of Migration is Cities Do Not Deliver”.

With the  International Organization of Migration (IOM) Director General explaining:-  “In an increasing ‘Urbanized’ world, we should be connecting migration and urbanization policies he called this the New Urban Agenda. And that  the Right to the City should also apply to Migrants “If We Leave No-one Behind”

The UN Global Compact & the Global Mayors Forum’s Declaration for Migrants were presented to the UN General Assembly in New York. At the UN Assembly the Mayoress of Montreal (Valerie Plante) told the gathering that “The adoption of the UN Global Compact Of Migration to be implemented in Cities & Local Government (Local Authorities) are not only instances that react to Migration Flows and implement measures, they are enacted by other levels of Govt- they are Partners”

Filippo Grandi UN High Commissioner of Refugees stressed “Cities and local and regional authorities have a key role to play in the implementation of both Global Compacts with cities also acting as the linchpin that can bring all necessary actors together from civil society to the private sector in order to ensure a whole-of-society impact”,

The UNGCM was the first ever negotiated global agreement on a common approach to international Migration in all its dimensions.  Emphasizing the principle of shared responsibility among countries of origin, transit and destination. That provides a roadmap for a more improved governance of international migration through so called ‘innovative solutions. Increased commitment by UN Member States. And a renewed focus on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

Multistakeholder Partnerships committed to achieving UN Global Agenda 2030 Global Development Goals is a vehicle to achieve large scale transformations (Deliver transformations on a Global Scale) Within the institutions of global governance ‘Transforming Our Lives  by 2030’. Scale up delivery across multiple areas. With a broad political consensus. (Unlikely to be fit for transformation). Partnerships between Govts and Non-state actors. Accountability is a key concern. As is finance. And making the glove fit the hand so to speak. (Fit for Purpose)

The 5th Mayoral Forum in Marrakech Morocco on the 8th December 2018 was co-organized by (George Soros) -Open Society Foundations * IOM International Organization for Migration  *United Cities & Local Governments ( (UCLG)  * The Global Knowledge Partnership of Migration and Development (KNOMAD)  * The World Bank * UN Institute for Training & Research  (UNITAR)  * Government of Morocco  * The UN International Childrens emergency Fund (UNICEF)  * The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) *UN Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat)  *The Cities Alliance

The 5th Mayoral Forum was made possible by the financial support of the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency (SDC)_What happened after the petition opposing the UNGCM was submitted to the Parliamentary Select Committee ? (ZILCH). I had learned that NZ Govt had already committed to the New York Declaration for Refugee and Migrants in 2016

What were the serious concerns I had besides what I have explained (Shared with you)   * Freedom of the Press, as the Compact dictated how Migration was to be reported by Journalists this being reliant whether they retain /obtain govt funding or not.  *  The 5th Mayoral Forum implementing Migration in Urbanization (Which the UN described as a New Urban Agenda) That the UNGCM launch and the Global Mayoral were held during UN Migration Week in the same location only 3 days apart. Migration being a whole Of Government Approach

Described as  ‘Cities  Working Together For Migrants & Refugees’. It was described as a Cross Cutting Theme that included International Cooperation as to Global Agenda 2030 (UN) Global Development Goals. Sustainable Development with a ‘Whole Of Government Approach

The Topics to be discussed were:- Diaspora,*Migrants  *Associations and Remittances;  *Education  * Employment *Entrepreneurship;  *Environment  *Climate Change   *Gender  * Governance   *Health *Private Sector Development * Trade * Social Inclusion * Human Rights *Urban Development.

It was only the 1st January 2016 that the UN Global Agenda 2030 was officially published for the world to view. Which was called ‘Transforming Our Lives 2030’ with the core message from the UN documenting “Leaving No-one Behind”. (I started to join the dots) Hence felt the need to push back. (Leaving No-one Behind- Inclusive – like it or not)

Between 2022 and 2024 we have had Mass Migration entries into NZ. There are a number of figures of migrant entries. One was 440,500. With Erica Stanford introducing the Mass Migration Management Act in Parliament in 2024. (Amending the Immigration Act) to allow more time for processing mass migration entries into NZ.

I have heard nothing from the Beehive or being publicly shared about the “Migration Behind The Scenes Dysfunction” as reported  by RNZ 3rd September 2023 and by Stuff NZ Immigration staff tell of behind-the-scenes visa dysfunction. The news articles includes as follows:-

Immigration Officers were told to ignore criminal conviction and investigations (Do not Investigate). Do not read supporting documents on Visa Applications *Do not check Work Visas at the Border (Use a Light-Touch – grant Visa’s faster). This was reported  by past and present Immigration NZ Officers as they shared their serious concerns describing this as ‘ A completely dysfunctional Visa Regime that allows for rampant fraud.

Immigration Officers exposing the fraud by using pics of cats and dogs as supporting document in a ‘dummy’ visa application that they alleged was approved. They also reported that the Accredited Employer work Visa Scheme system was completely ‘fecked’. Senior INZ Official Peter Elms admitting that the “AEWV Scheme has been manipulated by bad actors”

However it was reported that the concerns and issues were wide spread across the system as this included Visitor and Student visa’s where the approach was mandated to be streamlined *Immigration Officers were told to Ignore Criminal Convictions  & Investigations when granting Visa’s and also Residency to Individuals

They were told not to open and check attachments on Visa Applications as this would delay processing times  * Where some Visa staff concocted an Application and attached photos of household pets instead of official supporting documents just to prove that attached documents were not being read..

Immigration Border staff were told not to query Work Visa Holders and to accept them on ‘Face Value’ * Staff were told to take a streamlined approach to Visa’s * Officers were warned if they did not consider enough application in a week, whilst those that did process the most applications got ‘shout-outs’ * One Officer tried to decline applications under the AEWV Scheme but was over-ruled by Senior Managers.

There had been genuine concerns about an employer exploiting migrants, the response from their Manager was – “it had gone over their heads” and he’d been instructed to issue the visa. But the Immigration Officer said “We’d always push back”. With Immigration Officers not having the power to voice their concerns and with nothing done about them. The Managers just wanted to rapidly increase migrant visa entries as fast as possible.

With one Immigration Officer saying that “These Migrants know what they are getting into”. And that many Immigration Staff are  deeply unhappy about what was happening– about the directives they were  being given. It was reported that “A lot of people have left and gone to other jobs because it did not sit well for them with their conscience. A lot were emotionally affected because they wanted to do the right thing but were hobbled by Senior Management

One Immigration Officer said “the had attempted to decline accreditation to an employer with a Criminal Record involving Sexual Assault. However they were told that the offending was not pertinent to their role as an employer. Immigration Officers were absolutely appalled * Another Officer said “that on multiple occasions they had placed warnings on applicants whom had committed Fraud or Theft and still the Visa’s were issued.

*This included a Migrant that recently received three criminal convictions, and also approving residence Visa’s for individuals under Investigation .*Immigration staff were told by Senior managers to ignore Alerts on Clients for Crimes and for Breaching their Visa conditions (Just look the other way) The response from Senior Management being “there were worse clients that this guy being approved”

There were Border Issues where staff were told not to intervene in cases where there were question marks about newly arriving work visa holders (The response being ‘Just don’t look). There were Visa applicants applying for Butchers jobs who had never held a Butchers knife in their life. Some Customs Official reported concerns and no action was taken so they too were feeling concerned and tense about what was going on

One Officer saying “Theoretically, INZ should have already assessed and managed risk… In reality, it’s not the case and border is at full capacity.” Another said they estimated 200 cases a day of suspicious arrivals. National Party spokesperson  Erica Stanford said that INZ Staff had been warning INS Management for months of these issues- concerns. That Immigration staff were frustrated and felt their only alternative was to go to the Media and report it.

Green Party Immigration Spokesperson Ricardo Menendez -March said that INZ have had a huge Staff turnover, was under resourced and needed better funding. (did not touch on the Security of the country of migrants that were entering NZ that had criminal convictions. Not knowing who was being let in and if they were a risk to NZrs lives.

AS Head Official of Immigration NZ said she could not provide accurate number of fraudulent visa’s arriving in NZ.. But she  did not believe the numbers would  be as high that has been provided  (But could not provide accurate figures. https://www.unescap.org/our-work/environment-development/cities-for-a-sustainable-future/asia-pacific-urban-forum

ESCAP  UN Migration in Cities 5^th February 2025. The Asia Pacific Urban Forum & Flagship Report on Cities Its crucial that Cities get the job done  ‘Mass Migration in Cities’. The New UN Urban Agenda. Green Jobs for Migrants.

WakeUpNZ

RESEARCHER: Cassie

LINKS:-

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/497160/immigration-staff-tell-of-behind-the-scenes-visa-dysfunction

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/497160/immigration-staff-tell-of-behind-the-scenes-visa-dysfunction

https://migration4development.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/Marrakech%20Mayors%20Declaration_Cities%20Working%20Together%20for%20Migrants%20and%20Refugees_2018_EN.pdf Marrakech Mayors Declaration