An inconsistently applied government immigration policy which has frequently seen New Zealand gay and bi men separated from their overseas partners has been amended, in a move which is welcomed by people with HIV. In 2005 HIV was added to the Immigration Service schedule of health conditions that impose a significant burden on the healthcare system of New Zealand. This provided Immigration officials with the option to decline applicants who are living with HIV being able to join their New Zealand partners here. As of yesterday HIV-infected partners of New Zealand citizens or residents will be able to gain a waiver from the category of immigrants whose health status is likely to "impose significant costs or demands on New Zealand’s health services." Until now many HIV positive kiwis have had to choose between living overseas with the support of their partner or in New Zealand with their extended family. Many other countries also lack the level of medical and other services available in New Zealand to our citizens and residents. Body Positive, the nation's largest HIV positive people's support and advocacy organisation, says it has fought hard to assist individuals to secure their permanent residency and be able to live and work in New Zealand with their spouse or partner. "The Immigration Service had no clear policy on this and we found unfair treatment being meted out to applicants who have been in stable and long term relationships with their New Zealand partners," says BP general manager Bruce Kilmister. He says Body Positive had in recent times tried to help a couple of seven years standing where the overseas-born partner was Brazillian. "They fought long and hard but lost the battle with Immigration and in the end the stress broke up thgeir relationship," Kilmister says. He cites another gay couple who have paid thousands of dollars in legal fees fighting Immigration decisions including hearings before the Immigration Appeal Authority and who are still in limbo, with their financial resources almost exhausted. HIV medications which have historically been extremely expensive are bound to become cheaper with the hoped-for introduction of generic drugs, says Kilmister. "HIV+ people can live fully and productive healthy lifestyles and spend a lifetime working and paying taxes in New Zealand." This Friday collectors, including the Governor General, will be on city streets raising money to assist people struggling to live with their HIV infection. The annual collection is held in conjunction with World AIDS Day, December 1st.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 22nd November 2011 - 1:01pm