NEW Zealand is failing to protect those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in the Pacific islands.
A report by human rights organisation, Amnesty International, says discriminatory migration policies tear families apart in New Zealand and infringe on children’s rights, leaving those in dire situations with little recourse.
The report highlights a lottery-based migration system that excludes individuals based on age, disability, and health conditions, violating international human rights law.
Many Pacific Islanders, faced with the threat of climate change and natural disasters, are being forced to overstay their visas in Aotearoa New Zealand, risking deportation and further uncertainty.
Fala Haulangi grew up on Nanumea, in Tuvalu, and migrated to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1989. She pointed out the urgent need for change.
“The Government can do it. Why don’t we start now, so we’ve got a clear pathway for people to come here?” she asked.
Haulangi pointed out the constant fear and debt her community faced when trying to access essential services.
“Put yourself in their place. Are you really going to abandon your loved ones back home?”
As climate change exacerbates social inequalities throughout the Pacific, migration is becoming the only viable option for many.
Aotearoa New Zealand, with its historical and cultural ties to these nations, presents a crucial opportunity for those seeking refuge.
However, existing pathways, such as the Pacific Access Category Resident Visa (PAC), fail to accommodate the realities of climate-induced migration.
Charles Enoka Kiata, who moved from Tarawa in Kiribati to New Zealand through the PAC scheme in 2002, voiced concern over the restrictive nature of current migration schemes.
“People from Kiribati can come to New Zealand through work visas, study visas, on medical grounds, and through the PAC and the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) schemes.
“But our people are facing the threat of climate change. I would like to see a fair pathway towards migration under these climate impacts. A pathway that respects the integrity and the culture of our people,” he said.
The PAC scheme severely limits eligible applicants to individuals aged 18 to 45 who can prove a certain standard of health, effectively sidelining those with disabilities or chronic illnesses.
Alieta (not her real name), a teacher from Tuvalu, shared her painful experience of being separated from her family due to these policies.
After she was forced to withdraw from a family PAC application because of her visual impairment, her husband and daughter moved to New Zealand, leaving her alone.
“I didn’t want to be separated from my daughter. It is hard on children,” she said.
The implications of climate change extend beyond immediate safety, threatening fundamental human rights, including the right to life, health, and an adequate standard of living.
Under international human rights law, everyone has the right to be protected against forcible removal to a place where they would be at real risk of serious human rights violations, including due to climate change and disasters.
The International Court of Justice clearly reaffirmed this in its July 2025 Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change.
Amnesty International is calling on Aotearoa New Zealand to urgently reform its immigration policies to align with a rights-based approach to climate displacement.
In doing so, the government must develop and implement policies consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) and Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
“It is a stark injustice that Aotearoa New Zealand is a high income, high emitting country, failing to do the right thing to help our Pasifika whānau stay on their islands or migrate with dignity,’’ said Jacqui Dillon, Executive Director of Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand.
“We have both a duty of care and a debt of gratitude owed. For decades, Aotearoa New Zealand has profited from industry and manufacturing built on the backs of people from across the Pacific.
“We may have apologised for the Dawn Raids, but in 2025, our treatment of Pacific People remains shockingly inhumane. Right now, it’s important that not only Amnesty International, but every New Zealander stand alongside them in this fight for justice.”