The Parent Boost Visa is a bridge too far for Middle New Zealand

Our Second Leader in Indian Newslink Digital Edition June 15, 2025

Venkat Raman
Auckland, June 14, 2025

A nation’s character can often be judged by how it treats its families.

The promise of a fair and accessible pathway for reuniting parents with their children living abroad is more than just an administrative process; it is a reflection of a country’s values. It was with this hope that many in New Zealand, particularly within our vibrant ethnic communities, welcomed the National Party’s pre-election promise of a more ‘parent-friendly’ visa. The reality of the reopened Parent Category Visa, however, has proven to be a source of profound disappointment, creating barriers where it promised to build bridges.

The income threshold

The most significant and prohibitive of these barriers is the income threshold. For a migrant to sponsor their parents, they and their partner must have a combined income of twice the median wage, which currently places the requirement at an eye-watering level, well over $160,000 to $250,000 per year depending on single or couple sponsorship.

A single sponsor faces a similarly daunting task.

This policy immediately disqualifies a huge portion of ‘Middle New Zealand.’

We are not speaking of low-wage earners, but of the very professionals our country actively recruits and relies upon the nurses, engineers, teachers, and skilled technicians who form the backbone of our public services and industries. These are individuals who contribute significantly to our society and economy yet are told their contribution is not enough to afford them the simple dignity of living near their parents.

This approach creates a two-tier system, where the privilege of family reunification is reserved for high earners. It sends a disheartening message that the emotional and practical support of grandparents is a luxury item, not a foundational element of a healthy, functioning family. For many ethnic communities, where multi-generational living and close familial support are cultural cornerstones, this policy is particularly punishing. It ignores the immense non-financial value that grandparents bring, from providing essential childcare that enables both parents to work, to preserving cultural heritage and language for the next generation.

Cumbersome and uncertain

Beyond the financial wall, the system itself remains cumbersome and fraught with uncertainty. The Expression of Interest model is, in essence, a lottery. Families are forced to submit their hopes into a pool, with no guarantee of selection, making it impossible to plan for the future. Even for those who meet the high financial bar, the process is a gamble. This is not the reliable, straightforward system that families need when making life-altering decisions. It adds unnecessary stress and anxiety to what is already an emotionally charged process. A truly ‘parent-friendly’ system would be predictable and transparent, allowing people to work towards a clear and attainable goal.

The current policy is economically short-sighted. It fails to recognise the immense hidden value that grandparents contribute. The cost of formal childcare in New Zealand is a significant burden on working families. Grandparents providing this care for free not only eases that burden but also boosts the economy by freeing up their adult children to participate more fully in the workforce, thereby increasing their own earnings and tax contributions. This is a net gain for the country that the current visa framework completely fails to account for in its rigid calculations.

Policy short of promise

The government made a promise to the people of New Zealand. It promised a visa that would help, not hinder, families. The current reality falls desperately short of that promise. It is a policy that feels less like a parent boost and more like a barrier designed to keep all but the wealthiest families apart.

We urge the government to honour the spirit of its original pledge. It is time to go back to the drawing board and design a new policy. One with realistic income thresholds that recognise a wider range of contributions, a process that is clear and not left to chance, and a vision that truly values the central role that parents and grandparents play in the fabric of our communities. New Zealand is a nation built on the strength of its families; our immigration policy should reflect that.