Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri

Since 1 July 2020, Te Tari Taiwhenua, Department of Internal Affairs and New Zealand Red Cross have been supporting temporary visa holders facing hardship and unable to return home because of COVID-19 via Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri. The programme closed at midnight 30 November 2020. 

The Government has put in place a medium to long-term solution to support temporary visa holders in hardship in New Zealand. The Emergency Benefit, paid via the Ministry of Social Development, will be a flat rate paid weekly, based on the person’s situation. People applying will have to visit a Work and Income service centre and book a face-to-face appointment to apply. Applications can’t be booked or completed online or over the phone. 

Find out more

  

Outside of the Emergency Benefit support being offered by the Ministry of Social Development from 1 December, there is other support available to temporary visa holders in New Zealand facing hardship. 

• Health concerns

  If you can’t speak to your own doctor, call Healthline for free advice and information.  They can arrange to speak with you in your language. When your call is answered, say you'd like an interpreter and the language you’d like to use. Call 0800 611 116.  

• Mental health

  For mental health advice call or text 1737 at any time.  All services are available 24/7, with interpreter services available in over 40 languages. Call or text: 1737 or visit 1737.org.nz.

• Visa support

  If you’re from overseas and need advice about your visa status, contact Immigration New Zealand via www.immigration.govt.nz or by calling 0508 558 855. 

• Tenancy advice

  If you need advice on your rights as a tenant, contact Tenancy Services via www.tenancy.govt.nz or by calling 0800 836 262. 

• Citizens Advice Bureau

  The Citizens Advice Bureau aims to help people understand their rights and obligations. They provide a free and independent service to all. You can get in touch by visiting its website.

• Job seekers

  If you’re looking for work or have a vacancy that needs to be filled contact Work and Income New Zealand  https://www.jobs-during-covid.workandincome.govt.nz/hello  or call: 0800 779 009 (Job Seeker’s line).  

  You can also try the Work for Seasons website https://worktheseasons.co.nz/hello

  https://worktheseasons.co.nz/hello

   for information about seasonal job opportunities that may be available. 

  Go with Tourism also assists 1:1 and with redeployment of tourism workers to opportunities across all sectors / New Zealand regions www.gowithtourism.co.nz 

• Employee rights

  If you’d like advice on your rights as an employee contact Employment New Zealand www.employment.govt.nz  or call: 0800 20 90 20. 

• Help in your own language

  InfoNOW is a free service providing information to migrants in New Zealand in 17 languages. Call 0800 4366 669 or email info@infonow.nz 

We want to hear about your experience accessing the assistance available to temporary visas holders through Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri.

By sharing your feedback, you'll be able to help us assess and improve our services.

This survey is anonymous and will take approximately 3 minutes to complete.

Start the survey

  

Staying connected, looking after your wellbeing, following the advice of officials: there are simple things that we can do to take care of ourselves and others during this time. 

For information on looking after yourself and others, as well as health and wellbeing advice in several languages, head to this page.