[2020] NZIACDT 15 — KBN v Wharekura - Sanctions

Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal · decided 10 March 2020

The tribunal's published summary

Sanctions decision / dishonest & misleading behaviour / adviser’s licence suspended / adviser initially suggested seeking special direction / adviser provided falsified emails from Associate Minister’s office / adviser believed special direction would not be successful & never made request / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s50, s51 / misconduct serious but an isolated incident / no systemic dishonesty / adviser did not benefit from fraud / no prejudice to complainant as likelihood of success negligible / adviser immediately admitted wrongdoing, made an early apology & advised complainant of complaint process / adviser refunded fee & reimbursed legal expenses / cancellation sanction of last resort / no risk to public of repeat of misconduct / dishonesty at lower end of spectrum / adviser censured, suspended for 9 months & ordered to pay $6,500 penalty.

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.