Live
- Forest, wildlife conservation is everyone’s responsibility: Collector
- Anantapur: 10-member ganja peddling gang arrested
- ‘Literary Forum’ held at VSU
- Provide quality healthcare to patients at Gudur hospital
- Seamless darshan awaits devotees at Kanipakam Temple on New Year day
- ESI team inspects site for setting up hospital
- Loan recovery agents arrested for harassing loanee
- Work in coordination to prevent road accidents: Chittoor Collector
- EG collector unhappy over bankers not meeting loan targets
- CM Naidu to distribute pensions on Dec 31
Christchurch terror attacks: New Zealand offers permanent visas to victims and their families
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.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand opened a two-year window 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 children under 25.
Mustafa Farouk, the president of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, said it was a generous gesture.
"We are very happy," he said, adding he expected everyone eligible would apply.
"Some of these people have not only lost their loved ones, they have also lost their main provider." A self-styled white supremacist opened fire on Muslims at prayer in two Christchurch mosques on March 15. Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian" has been charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 of attempted murder.
