Emigrating to New Zealand is not always easy

The kids don't like it. They have built their lives here. They don't like moving, but it's not a decision made by choice

A COUPLE of immigration stories for you to consider.

The first reminds us that it's not always easy to get admitted to New Zealand. There are many anecdotal stories of would-be-Kiwis thwarted at some point in the immigration process, but the story in the Dominion Post about the Habr family, who have called New Zealand home for five years, is shocking.

The story is not without a hint of racism, and slams immigration efficiency. Turned-down applicants often report a confusion over what is and what is not going on, and this confusion over requirements and status-of-applications is why there's been a problem with "consultants" taking advantage of desperate people. Thankfully, the law has changed in this area of immigration recently (though it won't help those applying from overseas just yet.)

The second story makes you realise that whatever the situation when you apply, or begin dreaming of a New Zealand life, events can conspire to frustrate. The Otago Daily Times reports that Queenstown businesses are having trouble recruiting overseas workers because Immigration New Zealand is rejecting applications.

The current recession is making many countries around the world tighten their admission policices. This probably has more to do with domestic politics than actual necessity, but applicants for residency and longer-term permits or visas can be as vulnerable as feathers in the wind against such forces.