Recent Tribunal decisions - June 2026
The Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal has recently released 4 sanction decisions in relation to 3 advisers.
NM v Yu [2026] NZIACDT 37
The Tribunal found Ms Qian Yu aka Heidi Castelucci had breached clauses 1, 2(a), 3(a), 8(a), 13(a), 13(c), 18(a), 22, 24(c), 26(e) and 29(a) of the Code of Conduct for the following conduct:
- Provided immigration advice to AZ without supervision, in breach of clauses 1, 3(a), 8(a), 13(c) and 29(a). Ms Yu’s work assisting AZ after her supervisor terminated the supervision agreement was deceptive misrepresentation of her licence status.
- Failed to provide the client file to the Authority when requested, in breach of clause 26(e).
- Failed to provide the employer with a written agreement, in breach of clause 18(a).
- Failed to provide the employer with invoices, in breach of clause 22.
- Failed to act in accordance with the supervision agreement, in breach of clauses 1 and 13(a).
- Provided immigration advice to the employer without supervision, in breach of clauses 1, 3(a), 8(a), 13(a), 13(c) and 29(a). Ms Yu’s work assisting the employer after her supervisor terminated the supervision agreement was deceptive misrepresentation of her licence status.
- Failed to inform the employer when her licence was suspended and provide a refund, in breach of clauses 1, 24(c) and 29(a). Ms Yu’s work assisting the employer without disclosing her suspension was deceptive misrepresentation of her licence status.
- Failed to maintain a relationship of trust with the employer, in breach of clauses 1 and 2(a).
- Failed to provide the client file to the Authority when requested, in breach of clause 26(e).
Ms Yu was censured and cannot apply for any licence for 3 years from the date of the decision. Ms Yu was also ordered to pay the Registrar $4,000 within one month of the decision.
Ms Yu’s license was cancelled by the Tribunal on 13 March 2026 in this decision:
KZ v Ma [2026] NZIACDT 31
The Tribunal found that Ms Tzu-Tong Jane Ma had breached clauses 1, 2(a), 8(a), 9, 18(a), 20(b), 22, 26(a)(i) and (e) of the Code of Conduct for the following conduct:
- Failed to provide the complainant with written agreements for the second s 61 request and the request for Ministerial intervention, in breach of clause 18(a).
- Failed to advise the complainant in writing that the applications were futile and obtain his written consent to continue, in breach of clauses 1, 2(a) and 9.
- Failed to work within the scope of her knowledge and experience, in breach of clauses 1 and 8(a).
- Worked in a manner that unnecessarily increased the fees for the complainant, in breach of clause 20(b).
- Failed to provide the complainant with invoices for work regarding the s 61 requests and the request for Ministerial intervention, in breach of clause 22.
- Failed to provide to the Authority complete copies of the complainant’s immigration matters in her client file, in breach of clauses 26(a)(i) and (e).
Ms Ma was censured and cannot apply for any licence for 2 years from the date of the decision. Ms Ma was also ordered to pay $8,000 to the Registrar and $3,900 to the complainant within one month of the decision.
Ms Ma’s license was cancelled on by the Tribunal on 11 July 2025 in this decision:
AM v Huang [2026] NZIACDT 27
The Tribunal found that Mr Huang breached clauses 1, 4(a), 5, 6, 17(b), 19(l) and 20(a) of the Code of Conduct for the following conduct:
- Failed to provide the complainant with an opportunity to review the draft application prior to lodging it, in breach of clause 1.
- Failed to obtain written authority from the complainant prior to providing information about his immigration matter and visa status to the recruiting company, in breach of clause 4(a).
- Failed to explain to the complainant his professional obligations, in breach of clause 17(b).
- Failed to disclose to the complainant a conflict of interest (the tripartite agreement), obtain his written consent and record the conflict in the service agreement, in breach of clauses 5, 6 and 19(l).
- Failed to charge a reasonable fee, in breach of clause 20(a).
Mr Huang was censured and ordered to pay $4,000 to the Registrar within one month of the decision.
INZ(Watson) v Huang [2026] NZIACDT 26
The Tribunal found that Mr Huang breached clauses 1, 4(a), 5, 6, 17(b), 18(b), 19(l) and 20(a) of the Code of Conduct for the following conduct:
- Failed to provide the client with an opportunity to review the draft application prior to lodging it, in breach of clause 1.
- Failed to obtain written authority from the client prior to providing information about his immigration matter and visa status to the recruiting company, in breach of clause 4(a).
- Failed to explain to the client his professional obligations and how to access a full copy of the Code, in breach of clause 17(b), and the significant matters in the service agreement, in breach of clause 18(b).
- Failed to disclose a conflict of interest, obtain the client’s written consent and record the conflict in the service agreement, in breach of clauses 5, 6 and 19(l).
- Failed to charge a reasonable fee, in breach of clause 20(a).
Mr Huang was censured and ordered to pay $3,000 to the Registrar within one month of the decision.
Recent Tribunal decisions on the Justice website
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Recent Tribunal decisions on the Justice website(external link)