[2019] NZIACDT 80 — KBN v Wharekura (Philip Leslie Wharekura)

Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal · decided 9 December 2019 · adviser: Philip Leslie Wharekura

The tribunal's published summary

Dishonest and misleading behaviour / adviser’s licence suspended / complainant dyslexic / adviser suggested seeking an exemption from IELTS requirement / complainant contacted adviser seeking update on request / adviser falsely advised he had made a submission but there were no updates / adviser suggested complainant make a partnership-based application instead / complainant preferred not to base application on relationship & asked for update on exemption request / adviser provided falsified emails form Associate Minister’s office saying special direction assessments were on hold / adviser believed special direction would not be successful and never made a request / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1/ Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s442 / adviser’s conduct self-evidently dishonest / adviser acknowledged behaviour was at upper end of spectrum / conduct not for financial advantage & modest fee/ limited prejudice to complainant / complaint upheld.

Read the full decision (PDF, Ministry of Justice)

This page reproduces the tribunal's own published summary as a fair report of public tribunal proceedings; the linked decision is the authoritative record. A decision is not itself a finding of wrongdoing — some complaints are dismissed. Complainants are anonymised by the tribunal. Complaints about advisers go to the Immigration Advisers Authority.