2 Aug 2018

Northland, Far North leaders rally to keep aged care worker

From Morning Report, 6:46 am on 2 August 2018

Northland DHB and the Far North Council are rallying to save a popular aged-care worker who's being forced to leave the country. Juliet Garcia from the Phillipines has worked at Kaitaia's Switzer home for eleven years, renewing her work visa every year. She qualified in dementia care last year after Immigration said that would give her enough points to apply for residency. But Immigration now says the rules have changed; she no longer meets the essential skills criteria and she'll have to leave New Zealand next year. The Far North mayor John Carter says Immigration's stance is inexplicable. He told RNZ Northland reporter Lois Williams Mrs Garcia's the kind of immigrant the Far North needs.