A group of migrants scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars for the promise of work in New Zealand now have just three days before they have nowhere to live.
Immigration New Zealand officials are investigating the exploitation of Indian and Bangladeshi migrants after 144 were found living in crammed and unsanitary conditions in across 10 houses in Auckland.
They were able to come here thanks to the recently-introduced Accredited Employer Work Visa programme, but when they got here the agents they paid were nowhere to be seen, nor were they jobs they were promised.
Our reporter Finn Blackwell and camera operator Marika Khabazi visited some of them.
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Immigration NZ says it is now providing funding and resources to support the Indian and Bangladeshi nationals.
Compliance and Investigations General Manager Steve Watson, says an interim package includes $220 each a week in living cost support payments.
Further support includes providing individual information packs for each migrant detailing their visa options if they want to stay in New Zealand.
MSD is providing multiple job opportunity workshops The Ministry for Ethnic Communities is helping provide mental health support.
