False Visas

A Maori, Gerrard Otimi, has been arrested by the police for selling false visas to Pacific Island people. He offered to adopt them into his hapu, or tribe. They paid him $500 for this and he put a stamp in their passport which he said gave them a visa to live in New Zealand. Of course, he doesn’t have the right to do this. Only Immigration can give people Permanent Residence visas.

Some of the people wanting these visas are Tongan but most are Samoan. Most are over-stayers in New Zealand. This week there is a ballot, which is like a lucky Lotto win, for 1,500 places for Samoan people to live in New Zealand. There are about 10,000 people who want those 1,500 places.

Anyone who is an overstayer will not go to the police to complain about losing their $500 to Mr. Otimi because Immigration could send them back to their country. Police found about $30,000 in Mr. Otimi’s home. He was in court today. Members of his hapu went to court to support him. They said that he was just trying to help Pacific Island people. Other people say this is a scam or a rip-off, trying to get money for nothing.