A Tongan lawyer has issued a stern warning to the Tongan community in New Zealand to beware of unlicensed immigration consultants after a 48-year-old Tongan man, Paea Vehikite, was deported today following an unsuccessful visa bid.
Vehikite, who arrived in New Zealand in May 2009 but failed to secure a valid visa, appeared to have fallen victim to an immigration scam, according to reports.
The Rotorua District Court last month granted Immigration New Zealand (INZ) a warrant of commitment, allowing his detention ahead of deportation.
Judge John Bergseng noted that INZ had contacted Vehikite on March 17 this year, offering him a chance to apply for a visa under Section 61 of the Immigration Act—a discretionary provision for individuals unlawfully in New Zealand.
However, due to Vehikite’s inability to speak English, all communication was handled through his wife, Kilisitina.
Despite the opportunity, Vehikite’s application was declined on April 7, and he failed to leave the country within the required 14 days.
Kilisitina told the Rotorua Daily Post that the family had sought help from someone they believed was a licensed immigration agent in Auckland. After spending what she described as “a lot of money,” they discovered the agent was unqualified, and their application was rejected.
Lawyer Sounds Alarm on Immigration Scams
Auckland-based Tongan lawyer Nalesoni Tupou expressed serious concern over the re-emergence of immigration scams targeting the Tongan community.
“I would like to warn the community to be careful about using unlicensed agents,” Tupou said. “Not only will they lose their money, but they could also end up being deported to Tonga.”
Tupou urged those seeking immigration advice to verify consultants’ credentials through the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) before engaging their services.
Tupou said he had been “dealing with immigration scams that plagued the Tongan community for years, and while there were signs of improvement, he was surprised to encounter the Vehikite case.”
Tupou says he has identified the immigration consultant involved and is taking action, though Kaniva News cannot reveal their name for legal reasons.
INZ has reiterated that individuals without lawful status must comply with immigration processes or risk deportation.
The case has highlighted the vulnerability of migrant communities to fraudulent schemes, prompting calls for greater awareness and legal safeguards.
Anyone with concerns about immigration advice can check licensed advisers on the IAA website: www.iaa.govt.nz.
