A Four-Year Immigration Battle Leaves Chatham Islands Family in Bureaucratic Limbo

For over four years, Robbie Lanauze and his Dutch wife Nadja van Osch have found themselves trapped in what they describe as a 'bureaucratic hamster wheel.' The couple, who have three children, have been caught in a complex web of immigration errors, threats of deportation, and a visa that promised indefinite residency until the year 9999—only to later be told that their visa had expired.

Robbie, a New Zealander born on Pitt Island, said the first visa they received provided no clear criteria on when they needed to arrive in the country. The second residence visa, however, showed an expiry date of 9999—a mistake that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) later admitted was made in error. This clerical mistake led to a serious threat of deportation, which was only resolved last week.

Despite the errors, the couple had been living overseas and traveling before deciding to settle in the Chathams with their children, near Robbie’s mother, brother, and their family. They had even secured land and planned to build a home in the region. However, the uncertainty of their visa status has left their future in limbo.

"We had everything sorted, ready to go. We wanted to live in the Chathams and maybe partly in Indonesia as well. But everything's sort of been up in the air for the last few years to be very honest," Robbie said.

Paperwork was a major hurdle. Partnership residence visas require proof such as joint utility bills, which the couple struggled to find. Eventually, they received the visa, but the process was far from smooth. A passport was sent to London for verification, and they believed that was sufficient to activate the visa. However, when they tried to board a flight, they were told Nadja’s visa had expired three days after the 12-month deadline.

The couple was never informed of this deadline, and they claim there was a missing attachment in an email they received. "We did everything in our corner to adhere to the rules and regulations, but unfortunately it was, I'm guessing, a technical glitch or just a clerical error of some description and we never got that information," Robbie said.

They were then told to apply for a second or subsequent resident visa (SSRV), but that was also a mistake. Nadja’s visa, which appeared to grant indefinite residency, was later revoked, leaving the family under threat of deportation. The error, however, was eventually corrected by INZ, which quashed the threat and apologized for the confusion.

Acting Director of Visas Marcelle Foley of INZ said the first visa clearly outlined the conditions, including the need for Nadja to arrive within a specific timeframe. "We understand that the possibility of deportation can be stressful, and we empathise with Ms van Osch and her family," she said. "We can confirm that Ms van Osch's deportation case was considered by a Delegated Decision Maker for the Minister of Immigration (DDM) this morning. The DDM has cancelled Ms van Osch's deportation liability, and a decision letter has been sent to Ms van Osch to notify her of this outcome."

The Lanauze family’s experience has left a bitter taste. Robbie emphasized that a family-of-five is a significant addition to the small Chathams community of 600, especially as Nadja’s skills as a therapist are in demand. "We've spent thousands on this. We just really do need to go back and hold them accountable for the first error, which was them not giving us the information about entering New Zealand within the 12 months," he said.

Robbie described dealing with INZ as an "absolute nightmare." He said that while he has experience with bureaucracy in other countries, the process with INZ has been "an absolute nightmare."

This case has sparked broader concerns about the clarity and reliability of New Zealand’s immigration system, especially for those trying to settle in remote regions like the Chathams. The couple’s ordeal highlights the need for greater transparency and communication from immigration authorities.