Nine To Noon No evidence to support immigration law changes - lawyer
May 13, 2026
Deborah Manning, an immigration and human rights lawyer and AUT senior law lecturer, weighs in. She outlines concerns about expanded enforcement powers, loss of humanitarian appeal routes, stricter asylum procedures, and the lack of evidence and costings behind the proposed law changes. She also connects shifts in visa decisions to rising claims from India.
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Broadening Powers Without Safeguards
- The bill broadens enforcement powers without accompanying operational safeguards.
- Deborah Manning warned legislation should have been progressed alongside binding SOPs and independent oversight to prevent misuse.
New Zealand Moving Away From Aggressive Enforcement
- New Zealand has moved toward more constrained enforcement compared with some overseas counterparts.
- Manning cited recent reforms like requiring judicial warrants before early-morning home entries as evidence of this shift.
Publish Operational SOPs With New Laws
- Develop and publish binding operational guidance (SOPs) alongside any law that expands discretion.
- Manning recommended stakeholders co-develop SOPs so officials apply new powers consistently and accountably.