Bj

G'day

Looks like the govt is changing its requirements again as per the
following story.

Question; My son is getting ready to submit his citizenship
application this July 2004 and we are worried this may affect his
waiting period changing from 3 to 5 years.

How long does it take the draft bill for the Citizenship Act 1977 and
PAssport Act 1992 to go through the parliamentary process of 1st
reading to the 3rd and hence approval by parliament?

Would appreciate experts' feedback.

Cheers BJ


http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2858128a10,00.html


Security fears behind new passport laws

SUNDAY , 28 MARCH 2004

By AMIE RICHARDSON AND JONATHAN MILNE
The government wants to toughen security agencies' powers so they can
revoke the passports of Kiwis thought to pose some unstated national
security risk.

The raft of proposed changes to citizenship and passport laws -
impacting even on babies - are being attacked from within the
government as draconian.

The Sunday Star-Times understands Internal Affairs Minister George
Hawkins has internally circulated a draft bill to amend the
Citizenship Act 1977 and Passports Act 1992.

Progressive deputy leader Matt Robson confirmed he had seen the bill,
saying it was driven by the Security Intelligence Service,
capitalising on widespread fear of terrorism in the wake of the
September 11 and Madrid attacks.

The bill comes as lawyers for Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui challenge
the SIS security certificate issued against him, which has raised
concerns about the secrecy surrounding any grounds for such
certificates.

Prime Minister Helen Clark's office would say only that there had been
a general review of the citizenship legislation under way for some
time, and new legislation would come before parliament.

Changes in the draft bill, yet to go to cabinet, are said to include:

# Authorities having the power to revoke or refuse a passport to any
New Zealander, without giving any reason other than that national
security is at stake.
# A New Zealand-born child whose parents are not permanent residents
or citizens would not automatically be granted citizenship. Such a
child might be allowed to apply for permanent residence.
# Immigrants would have to spend five years here before they could
apply for citizenship - up from three years. Foreign spouses of New
Zealanders would no longer be given a reduced waiting time.
# The time spent on temporary permits, such as students' or visitors'
permits, would not count as time towards naturalisation.

The SIS has been extending its use of security risk certificates: in
the past two years it has issued certificates against one couple and
two individuals, permanent residents who had wanted to get citizenship
and passports.

The government said last September it was reviewing whether babies
born here to foreign mothers should receive a no-questions-asked
citizenship, amid concerns about New Zealand paying for maternity care
for 1600 foreign mothers.

Among them were American anti-nuclear activists Stephen Kent and
Melanie Meer, who visited Christchurch in 2002 and 2003 for the birth
of a daughter and son. Daughter Sevilla, who turns two next month, has
US and New Zealand passports.

Former immigration minister Lianne Dalziel said last September that
border officers worldwide had been warned about the family and the
government would look to close the loophole allowing such babies
automatic citizenship.

The target date for passing Hawkins' measures is mid-October, in order
to also meet US requirements for digitised travel documents - although
the US has recently announced a two-year extension to that deadline.

The draft bill has been circulated around cabinet committees but is
awaiting the sign-off of party caucuses and cabinet.

Robson said he would be advising his two-man caucus - himself and Jim
Anderton - to oppose it.

The bill's supporters argued it was necessary because of the threat
posed by international terrorism and people smuggling, but he said the
incidence of people-smuggling was down.

But Robson said the SIS was using the "current manufactured climate of
fear of terrorism" to rush through draconian law changes affecting all
New Zealanders.

"I think everyone is vulnerable, from the president of Federated
Farmers to the chairman of the Council of Churches; everybody is at
risk," he said. "It smacks of panic legislation and it needs thorough
debate.

"The SIS and other intelligence agencies including police
counter-intelligence, customs and immigration are pushing for wider
and wider powers and they're not stopping at refugees - they're going
on to New Zealand citizens."

It is understood the bill would also ratify the 1961 United Nations
Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, which would assist
refugees in particular.

But Robson said the proposed change to remove automatic citizenship
for children born in New Zealand created "statelessness by descent"
and reversed policies that had been in existence for decades.

"Those policies are there to protect the child."

Christchurch activist and university lecturer David Small, who caught
SIS agents bolting from his friend Aziz Choudry's home in 1996, was
shocked by the proposed changes, saying he feared his own passport
could be revoked.

"It's just another of those draconian measures.

"I think it's outrageous," he said. "I feel kind of vulnerable but I
don't think they would dare."

Jaj

How long it takes a Bill to get through Parliament depends on how keen
the government is to see it pass quickly.

Could be days, could be many months.
The article suggested the government has a target date of October.

There's not much your son can do other than apply as soon as possible
once he's eligible. He should make sure however he's clearly eligible
before applying.

Jeremy

BJ wrote:
    > G'day
    >
    > Looks like the govt is changing its requirements again as per the
    > following story.
    >
    > Question; My son is getting ready to submit his citizenship
    > application this July 2004 and we are worried this may affect his
    > waiting period changing from 3 to 5 years.
    >
    > How long does it take the draft bill for the Citizenship Act 1977 and
    > PAssport Act 1992 to go through the parliamentary process of 1st
    > reading to the 3rd and hence approval by parliament?
    >
    > Would appreciate experts' feedback.
    >
    > Cheers BJ
    >

George Lombard

Hi Jeremy,

Having a unicameral system means that NZ governments can be much more
efficient in setting legislation timetables and meeting them.

cheers

George Lombard