WELLINGTON: The New Zealand Government is refusing to say how much it may have to pay over Immigration New Zealand’s troubled Biometric Capability Update IT project.
Officials have warned that technology company NEC could claim at least $4 million in sunk costs, while a quality assurance report said INZ could face charges of up to $750,000 a month for delays beyond a 2025 deadline.
The Government is also facing a potential $12 million liability, but says it will not comment until an independent inquiry into the failed project is completed.
Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford has admitted officials overestimated the expected savings from INZ’s new $336 million, eight-year Our Future Services (OFS) programme, which began 18 months ago.
INZ is also forecasting a $90 million deficit in its visa accounts this financial year, prompting the Government to prepare another review of visa fees and charges.
