Immigration New Zealand is targeting unlawful employers as it tackles more than 19,000 visa overstayers. 

More than 6,500 visas have expired since 2023 without the holders leaving New Zealand shores.  

Americans topped the list of overstayers, followed by people from Tonga, China, the UK, and India. 

Compliance and Investigations General Manager Steve Watson told Mike Hosking employment is a major drawcard for people who overstay. 

He says Immigration NZ is focusing on employers who unlawfully hire migrants, which can lead to exploitation. 

But Watson says they're not entirely sure yet why so many Americans have overstayed in the last three years, with the count sitting at 925. 

He says Americans don't rank highly in immigration's four priority areas —criminality, character, exhausted appeals, or employment— so more work is needed to work out what is going on with that group. 

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