Section 277 — Immigration Act 2009: Powers of entry and inspection relating to records of employers

277 Powers of entry and inspection relating to records of employers (1) An immigration officer may exercise the powers in subsection (3) in the circumstances described in subsection (2) for the following purposes: (a) determining whether a person is complying with work-related conditions of his or her visa: (b) determining whether an employer is complying with the employer's obligations under this Act: (c) locating a person who is liable for deportation. (2) An immigration officer may exercise the powers in subsection (3) where the officer believes on reasonable grounds that— (a) there is kept on any business premises— (i) any wages and time record kept by an employer in accordance with the provisions of any Act; or (ii) any other document relating to the remuneration or employment conditions of an employee; and (b) there may be information in that record or other document relating to a person who is— (i) not entitled under this Act to work in New Zealand or to undertake work of the relevant type or duration or for the relevant employer; or (ii) otherwise not complying with obligations under this Act (including obligations as an employer); or (iii) liable for deportation. (3) An immigration officer may— (a) enter any part of the employer’s premises in which the officer reasonably believes a wages and time record, or any other document referred to in subsection (2)(a)(ii), is kept; and (b) require the employer or the person appearing to have the record or document under that person's control to produce that record or document for inspection; and (c) copy or require a person to provide a copy of any part of any record or document that is required to be produced to the officer. (4) An immigration officer may exercise the powers in subsection (3) at any reasonable time during which work is being carried out on the premises or the premises are open for business, whether by day or by night, without a warrant or any other authority than this section. Compare: 1987 No 74 s 138