Extension for Pacific Quota applications
Media Release
18 December 2008
People from Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu who were successful in this year's ballots under the Samoan Quota Scheme (SQS) and Pacific Access Category (PAC) will have an extra month to apply for residence in New Zealand.
The Department of Labour has announced that the closing date for receiving applications under the two schemes will be extended to Monday 9 February 2009 to give applicants more time to get all the necessary documentation.
The Director of the Department’s Pacific Division, Ross Grigg, says there have been fewer residence applications received than expected by now. “There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that applicants who were successful in this year’s ballot have been finding it is taking longer than anticipated to get all the necessary information to complete the residence applications,” Mr Grigg says. “In the circumstances we feel it is only fair to extend the deadline by a month, which should give applicants enough time to get their completed applications to us.”
The Samoan Quota allows up to 1,100 citizens of Samoa selected by ballot, to be granted residence in New Zealand each year. The Pacific Access Category allows up to 250 citizens of Tonga and up to 75 citizens each from Kiribati and Tuvalu selected by ballot to be granted residence in New Zealand every year.
Note to Editors:
Applications for residence under the Samoan Quota Scheme (SQS) and Pacific Access Category (PAC) can be lodged at the nearest Immigration New Zealand branches in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and New Zealand. Contact details are as follows:-
Fiji
Immigration New Zealand
Reserve Bank of Fiji Building
Pratt St
PO Box 15183
Suva
FIJI
Phone: 679 330 6033
Fax: 676 330 3792
Email: nzissuva@dol.govt.nz
Tonga
Immigration New Zealand
1st Floor, Kupu House
Fatafehi Road P O Box 830 Nuku'alofa TONGA
Phone: 676 23 977
Fax: 676 23 011
Samoa
Immigration New Zealand
New Zealand High Commission
Beach Road
P O Box 2277
Apia
SAMOA
Phone: 685 21 715 or 685 21 716
Fax: 685 21 717
New Zealand or elsewhere
Department of Labour
Pacific Division
Immigration New Zealand
PO Box 76 835
Manukau City
AUCKLAND
or
Level 3, Westfield Towers (Leyton Way)
Westfield Shopping Centre
Manukau City
Phone (if in Auckland): 914 4100
(elsewhere in NZ): 0508 55 88 55
Fax: 09 970 3962
