Wellington: New Zealand opened a two-year window on Wednesday for people directly affected by the Christchurch terror attacks to apply to stay permanently in the country. The special visa category “recognises the impact of the tragedy on the lives of those most affected, and gives people currently on temporary and resident visas some certainty” about their status, Immigration New Zealand said in a statement.
People living in New Zealand who were present at one of the mosques and their immediate family based in New Zealand qualify for the visa.The definition of “immediate family” has been expanded to include a wide circle of family members including partner’s family and the grandparents of kids under 25. Meanwhile, NZ PM Jacinda Ardern said the country will join forces with France against the use of social media to organise and promote terrorism.