My Husband’s Died And They’re Making Me Leave New Zealand

Did you know that someone in New Zealand on a temporary visa based on their relationship with a New Zealander has no right to stay in the country if their partner dies?

I know three women who have faced being kicked out of the country on the death of their New Zealand partner.

Can you imagine?

Grieving the death of your husband whilst trying to come to terms with having no right to stay in New Zealand; New Zealand, the country your husband wanted to be your home.

Compare this to someone in New Zealand on a temporary visa based on their relationship with a New Zealander where the New Zealander partner beats them up.

Here the partner from overseas has a right to New Zealand residency because they are the victim of domestic violence perpetrated by their New Zealand partner.

And rightly so.

My question is this, why doesn’t the wife of a New Zealander who dies have a similar right to residency?

One of the women I know whose New Zealand husband died put it like this:

“If I’d married a bad New Zealander I would get to stay. But because I married a good New Zealander I have to go. Is that fair?”

No it’s not fair. In fact it’s shameful.

I will be pushing for Immigration New Zealand to change its policy.

Talk to us

For more information on this topic contact our Immigration Team.