Urgent Debates Declined — Immigration New Zealand—Dawn Raids

Members, I have received a letter from Teanau Tuiono and Ricardo Menéndez March seeking to debate, under Standing Order 399, reports of recent dawn raids conducted by Immigration New Zealand against visa overstayers. While arrests resulting from early-morning raids have occurred from at least July 2022, the requirement of “recent occurrence” depends upon when it becomes publicly known, so I consider this requirement has been met—Speakers’ rulings 204/6. In considering the application for an urgent debate, while there is ministerial responsibility, it is also relevant whether there are other parliamentary means of debating the subject. In this instance, the Minister of Immigration is scheduled to attend the annual review debate tomorrow afternoon, where this matter can be debated—therefore, the application is declined.