Budget 2026 allocates $18 million over four years to establish three new frontline teams responding to migrant exploitation and immigration non-compliance.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced the funding, which responds to sustained growth in demand for labour inspectorate and immigration compliance activity since the border fully reopened in July 2022.
The funding will create 22 additional FTE positions across three teams operating within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Immigration Compliance and Investigations branch and the Labour Inspectorate.
A new Immigration Investigations team will target reducing complex case backlogs and responding to serious immigration offending. An additional Labour Inspectorate team will expand capacity to detect and respond to migrant exploitation and serious breaches of employment standards. A new Immigration Compliance team will focus on lower-level employer non-compliance and people in New Zealand unlawfully or in breach of visa conditions, enabling approximately 70 additional infringement notices.
The allocation comes as the Government enforces a maximum continuous stay requirement for temporary work visa holders for the first time. Legislation effective November last year created an offence for knowingly seeking or receiving premiums for employment, with penalties up to seven years' imprisonment or $100,000 fine.
The Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill currently before Parliament will increase the maximum penalty for migrant exploitation from seven to 10 years' imprisonment.