Immigration New Zealand to spend $60m for system overhaul

New Zealand, 8th June: Immigration New Zealand has been finally given a nod for overhaul of its depleted computer system.

The system overhaul for Immigration New Zealand will cost a whopping $60m.

Giving the details about the long pending replacement for computer system overhaul of Immigration New Zealand, Jonathan Coleman, New Zealand Immigration Minister said that the funds for the upgrading and stabilization of the existing system will be paid for from the existing baselines of the agency.

Immigration New Zealand’s AMS(application management system)is almost 16-year-old and the government of New Zealand is finding significant problems with it, the minister clarified.

Way back in the year 2008, several weaknesses were found in the system which was considered to be threatening the ability to find identity fraud by migrants, a report by 2008 auditor-general revealed. Moreover, another situation of high-risk was highlighted by a Cabinet paper which stated that in 2007, nearly decisions regarding 39,000 visas were made without any access to the AMS, thus putting the security of the nation at a great risk.

The current Immigration New Zealand system had nearly 60 databases, many of which were not having proper links. Hence, the staff had no access to the information of the applicants for New Zealand visas since the information could not be assembled on one screen.

The replacement of the current system will help allow New Zealand immigration officials get access to biometric details regarding immigrants and enable in centralized and consistent decision-making. Also, this will facilitate in keeping an online track of New Zealand visa applications online, the minister apprized.

The upgradation of the system of Immigration New Zealand will be tendered in September this year and the final decision about investment will get ready in February 2011, he added. 

Dr. Coleman clarified that funds amounting to $10 million have already been set aside to be spent over the period of next four years for the repair of the AMS.

According to Nigel Bickle, deputy chief executive of Labor Department, said apart from the capital funding, another $10m will be spent for funding the running charges.

Immigration New Zealand had received criticism after the system could not detect and detain Rayed Mohammad Abdullah Ali, a Yemeni National who was found to be having links to the US 9/11 terror attacks.