Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Action on family violence1 remains a policy priority for the New Zealand government. Accordingly, this article explores the Immigration New Zealand’s Victims of Family Violence (VFV) visa. Specifically, it explores possible barriers preventing MELAA2 cultural groups from utilizing the VFV visa.APPROACH: The discussion is based on administrative immigration data, gathered by Immigration New Zealand (INZ), on applicants for VFV visas between July 2010 and March 2021.FINDINGS: Over the last 10 years, INZ received 1,947 applications for the VFV Visa. People of Asian (40%) and Pacific (38%) backgrounds made most of these applications, with India, Fiji, China, the Philippines, and Tonga making up the top five source countries. MELAA communities made only 11% of the total VFV visa applications. Applicants from South Africa, Brazil, Iran, Nigeria, and Argentina made up the top five source MELAA countries. Analyses showed that MELAA applications were mostly work-type visas.IMPLICATIONS: Data presented shows that the VFV visa is still underutilised within these communities. Possible reasons for these notable outcomes are explored in this article, with suggestions for remediating strategies for barriers preventing MELAA communities from utilising the VFV visa. This article concludes that more research is required to gain an in- depth understanding of the specific cultural contexts within which these women engage with this visa.

Highlights

  • MethodsMethod of generating data from datasetsThe following steps were taken to explore the data set for this article

  • Action on family violence1 remains a policy priority for the New Zealand government

  • Who are dependent on the immigration status of their abusive partner, may find it difficult to leave abusive relationships for several reasons, including fear of losing financial support and legal status in the country

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Summary

Methods

Method of generating data from datasetsThe following steps were taken to explore the data set for this article. The data sets of interest were selected (Flows: “W1 Work Decisions” and “R1 Residence Decisions,” respectively); the period was set to “Calendar Year”; two variables of interest were selected, including “Application Criteria” and “Decision Type”; and additional filters added, including “Nationality” and “Application Criteria – Victims of Domestic Violence.”. These steps generated data showing numbers of applicants for VFV visas between July 2010 and March 2021, by nationality and the decision outcomes (Approved or Declined) for the number of visa applications. For further analysis the data were grouped according to “regions,” closely following Statistics New Zealand’s official “Ethnic” (termed Region in this article) categories

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