New Zealand Tribunal Bars Adviser for Five Years Over Systemic Misconduct

Summary

New Zealand’s immigration advice tribunal has barred an adviser from reapplying for a licence for five years after finding 17 professional breaches. The case involved unauthorised advice after suspension, unlawful retention of tuition fees and a broader history of 123 additional breaches across nine complaints. The decision underscores the regulator’s willingness to impose severe sanctions where misconduct is systemic and clients’ funds are mishandled.

Our Analysis

• We see this as a decisive warning that suspended advisers must stop all client work immediately.
• Client-money controls and documented supervision should be audited without delay.
• Our team expects migrants to scrutinise licence status before signing agreements or transferring fees.
• Repeated misconduct is clearly attracting increasingly protective sanctions.

Full Story

New Zealand’s immigration advice regulator has imposed a five-year prohibition on a former adviser after a disciplinary tribunal found wilful and systemic breaches of professional obligations, reinforcing the consequences of operating outside licensing requirements.

In a decision dated 26 August 2026, the Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal found the adviser liable for 17 breaches under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 and the Licensed Immigration Advisers Code of Conduct. The most serious conduct involved continuing to provide immigration services after a supervision agreement had ended and after the adviser’s licence had been suspended.

The tribunal also found that the adviser unlawfully retained a client’s tuition fees, refused to provide a refund and used the money for personal purposes. It described the conduct as a grave breach and concluded that the services provided were of no value to the client.

The decision formed part of a wider disciplinary history. The tribunal noted that nine other complaints had been upheld against the adviser, involving a further 123 breaches. It identified a pattern of engaging with disciplinary proceedings only at the sanctions stage, alongside systemic dishonesty and non-compliance with professional obligations. The tribunal characterised the conduct as showing contempt for New Zealand’s immigration advice licensing system.

The adviser was censured, ordered to pay a NZ$4,000 financial penalty and directed to refund NZ$8,960 in unlawfully retained tuition fees. The five-year restriction on reapplying for a licence represents a significant protection measure for migrants and reinforces the importance of checking an adviser’s current status before paying fees or authorising immigration work.

For immigration services businesses, the ruling highlights the need for robust supervision controls, immediate cessation of advice when a licence is suspended, proper handling of client funds and complete cooperation with regulatory investigations.