Immigration New Zealand is clamping down on the number of visitor and work visas it hands out.
The move comes as the number of people arriving on such visas, who then claim refugee or protected person status, continues to rise.
Refugee claims are estimated to have gone up 60 per cent in five years - from 287 in 2013/14 to 470 in 2017/18.
Andrew Lockhart of Immigration New Zealand told 1 NEWS about 95 per cent of people who claim refugee status are already in New Zealand on a visitors, work or other visa when they make that claim.
The department says the influx has led to processing times being pushed out, meaning genuine asylum claimants are spending longer in uncertainty.
And those who are not genuine end up staying for some time in New Zealand, during which they can claim benefits, work and access publicly funded health and education.
Immigration New Zealand says this can incentivise false claims.
It wants another $3.7 million to speed up processing.
"Every claim has to be determined on its own merits, and its case. So if someone makes a refugee status [claim] we'll look at it," Mr Lockhart said.
“Frustrated and depressed and very anxious and disappointed
Expectant mother Nazareth Contreras applied for visitors visas for her parents to come to New Zealand from Venezuela.
But Immigration New Zealand said no, believing they were likely to breach their visa conditions or remain here unlawfully.
Ms Contreras said the decision has left her "frustrated and depressed and very anxious and disappointed to be honest. It's been very hard on me".
She believes her family has been discriminated against.
"I don't think it's fair for me and I don't think its fair for this baby," she said.
But Immigration New Zealand is standing by its decision, saying Venezuela is economically unstable and there's no significant financial incentive for her parents to return.
SHARE ME