The press in New Zealand is reporting about a recently married man, who has been refused to bring his Eritrean wife with him to New Zealand after he returned from a job assignment in Eritrea. The issue highlights the importance of non bureaucratic laws as well as the need for legislative flexibility in certain cases.

Legislation in New Zealand requires the husband Greg Cromack to be married to his wife Saba Cromack for at least one year, before he will be granted permission to live together with her in New Zealand.

Plenty of such laws have been introduced around the world, in order to minimise the number of false marriages for immigration purposes.

Mr Cromack, who happens to be the new owner of a software business, which is selling a hotel management system called G4 with good prospects to expand globally, has no intention to be separated from his wife for such a long period.

If Greg Cromack would have a choice, his wish would be to settle in New Zealand with his wife and the company he purchased.

However, he was forced to consider a second option with the help of the Australian Government, which came to his aid by allowing him to settle with his wife in Australia. The country has less restrictive immigration laws, because it wants to attract foreign business and skilled workforce. 

A delegation of the Australian Government also made a visit to Eritrea in order to interview Mrs. Saba Cromack.

Mr. Cromack gave the authorities in New Zealand an ultimatum until the end of June to grant him permission to bring his Eritrean wife to New Zealand or otherwise he will move his business to Australia.

The business man is blaming bureaucracy and tight regulation on immigration for the shortage of  skilled labour and the lack of innovative minds in New Zealand.

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