Edwards’ sentence is the result of an Immigration investigation involving 16 complainants, all Fijian nationals, says Steve Watson, General Manager Immigration Compliance and Investigations, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment.

The complainants arrived in New Zealand in 2022 after Edwards secured them critical purpose visas to work for East Coast forestry contractor Abushman Contractor, a business she was also involved with. The visas were valid for 6 months from first arriving in the country and allowed the complainants to work as forestry workers and planters for Abushman in Hawkes Bay and Gisborne only.

Investigators found that shortly after arriving in New Zealand, Edwards aided and abetted the complainants to breach their visa conditions and work as security guards with East Security Ltd to supplement their employment with Abushman, knowing their visas did not allow them to undertake this work.

Edwards directed the migrants to undertake the weekend security work at major sporting events or concerts in various cities and towns, including Auckland and Tauranga. They travelled in East Security vehicles and wore uniforms provided by the company. The security work often involved long hours and nightshifts and was performed in addition to their normal week’s work.

Mr Watson says the sentence reinforces the message that breaching immigration law will not be tolerated and anyone doing so will be held to account.

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