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News > New Zealand

New Zealand Offers Permanent Residency to Mosque Attack Survivors

  • Abdul Aziz, who has been hailed as hero for chasing shooter away, hugs a friend as they help to renovate the Linwood Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand.

    Abdul Aziz, who has been hailed as hero for chasing shooter away, hugs a friend as they help to renovate the Linwood Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. | Photo: Reuters

Published 24 April 2019
Opinion

Counting all survivors and their immediate family members currently residing in New Zealand, the agency estimates about 190 people could apply.

New Zealand’s immigration authorities are giving permanent status to survivors and family members of survivors of the Christchurch mosque attacks in which 50 people were killed by a lone gunman with ties to white supremacist groups on March 15. Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said the situation called for a “significant response” by the government.

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Immigration New Zealand, the agency responsible for border control, visas and immigration published a page to their website announcing a special visa category for “People directly affected by the terrorist attacks in Christchurch and their families can now apply for permanent residence in New Zealand if they want to.”

Starting April 24, those who were “present at one of the mosques and their immediate family based in New Zealand” can apply for the Christchurch Response (2019) — permanent resident visa.

According to website documentation, this decision was made as a “humanitarian response to those directly affected in order to provide certainty about their immigration status.”

Counting all survivors and their immediate family members currently residing in New Zealand, the agency estimates about 190 people could apply.

Lawmakers in New Zealand have made various moves in response to the attacks including passing new sweeping gun laws that ban semi-automatic and military-style weapons. Members of Parliament voted unanimously on April 10 to ban weapons often used in mass killings because they cause the most damage.

Authorities have charged Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a self-confessed white supremacist, with 50 counts of murder following the attacks.

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