‘Cultural performers’ who overstayed their entertainment visas apply for asylum

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

Up to seven members of an Indian cultural group who came to New Zealand for a Holi festival event, then disappeared, have applied for asylum.

Stuff learned of the asylum claims after Immigration NZ released documents under the Official Information Act.

After we asked further questions, the agency said it had released the information in error and tried to recall it.

Stuff believes the information is in the public interest.

Several members of the cultural group that came to New Zealand for a Holi festival event in February, then disappeared, have applied for refugee status, Stuff can reveal.

The information was contained in material Immigration New Zealand (INZ) says it released in error under the Official Information Act and tried to recall.

The agency says that, as of Monday, 10 of the 18 people who came to New Zealand for the Pukekohe event with an Indian pop star as the headliner remain in the country and have overstayed their visas.

“We will continue to assess information received and contact those who are in New Zealand unlawfully on a case-by-case basis,” Jeannie Melville, INZ’s acting chief operating officer, said in a statement.

“People who remain in New Zealand after their visa has expired should leave the country.”

However, Stuff can reveal that the department has known since March that several of the group had applied for asylum.

Individuals who have applied for asylum cannot be deported until their claims have been heard, including any appeals.

An internal email dated March 9, just a day after the media first revealed that some of the group had overstayed their visas, noted that five individuals had submitted “R&P [refugee and protection] claims”.

“It is likely that at least two other individuals have submitted similar claims that have not yet been lodged in the system,” the email said.

INZ never mentioned the claims to media at the time, saying it was “prioritising contact” with the overstayers on a “case-by-case basis”.

After Stuff asked further questions on Friday about how many of the overstayers had now made asylum claims, INZ said it had released the information in error, and on Monday, re-issued the OIA documents with those lines redacted.

INZ said, in a statement, that the identity and details of refugee and protection claimants and their claims - in some cases, including the existence of the claim - were protected under the Immigration Act for the safety of the individuals involved.

Stuff is publishing the information as it believes it is in the public interest, and none of the overstayers have been publicly identified by media.

The documents show that the visa applications for 27 people were supported by the India-based CD Foundation, which promotes trade and cultural collaborations internationally, and the Indian consulate in Auckland.

Together they were organising a Community Holi Celebration with Shibani Kashyap, a popular Bollywood singer.

(Kashyap has previously told Stuff she knew nothing about plans to bring a group of performers for the event and was upset her name had been used to bring them in. The CD Foundation says the overstayers “misused” their visas and acted “beyond our sight and control”.)

The OIA documents reveal that processing of the visa applications had to be completed quickly as the group was just days away from its scheduled travel dates.

An email from an INZ manager on February 11 said the group included “folk performers, models, videographers, cameramen and co-ordinators” and each had a letter signed by a consular officer.

Proposed travel dates were between February 15 and 22.

“These need priority please, travelling Saturday,” the email said.

The applications were treated as short-term entertainment act visas, and the job of processing them was given to staff at INZ’s office in Henderson, Auckland, with three or four cases per staff member, the documents show.

It was discovered that the event did not have an approved promoter, as required under INZ’s rules for entertainment visas, but because the event was being supported by the Indian Consulate, an exception was granted.

(Stuff had asked for all correspondence with the consulate, but it was redacted on privacy grounds. The consulate has previously confirmed to Stuff that it provided letters of support, and was liaising with Indian community leaders in an attempt to identify the overstayers “and send them back”.)

The documents state that concerns were identified with some of the applications, including fraudulent documents.

Four applications were declined because of this, and three were withdrawn after letters of concern were sent to the applicants.

In the end 20 applications were approved - some on the day of travel - with seven of the group obtaining visitor visas and 13 receiving short-term limited visas.

Only 18 travelled to New Zealand - one was “offloaded prior to departure after further concerns were identified”.

Stuff asked INZ whether the speed with which the visas were processed meant adequate due diligence on the performers’ bona fides wasn’t carried out, but it did not respond directly to that question.

Melville said INZ tried to process applications as quickly as possible.

“Sometimes they do take longer which may mean that they are decided close to the intended travel date”.

She said some applications were lodged under the wrong visa category.

“Given time constraints, INZ continued processing them in line with immigration requirements, rather than requiring fresh applications to be made.”

Melville said INZ had made contact with all the people who remained in New Zealand unlawfully.

“To protect the individuals’ privacy we are unable to provide any further detail.”