New Zealand Law Society - Immigration and Refugee Law Committee
The Immigration and Refugee Law Committee monitors and makes recommendations on proposed legislative reforms relevant to immigration and refugee law. It also liaises with Immigration New Zealand and the Refugee Status Unit about issues relating to immigration and refugee policy and practice.
The Immigration and Refugee Law Committee was established in 2010 to keep a watching brief on legislative reform and practice relating to immigration and refugee law.
Mark Williams is the committee convenor. Mark has specialised in immigration law, with a focus on individual/family, business/investment and corporate migration services over the last 20 years, and is an internationally recognised expert in New Zealand immigration law. He is a partner at Lane Neave and an Adjunct Professor of Law of Victoria University (Melbourne).
The committee is made up of experienced immigration practitioners:
In the past 18 months, the committee has commented on proposals impacting on immigration and refugee law, including submissions on:
The IRLC also provided feedback to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) on issues arising from COVID-19 which impact migrants’ and refugees’ access to justice.
The committee liaises with INZ and the Refugee Status Unit, as well as the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, on immigration and refugee policy and practice issues.