The intrepid souls, having poured their life’s savings into chasing the Kiwi dream, now find themselves trapped in a nightmare, their futures hanging by a thread.
Buildhub, once celebrated as a beacon of opportunity under Immigration New Zealand’s Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme, has been unmasked as a house of cards.
The company’s dark underbelly was exposed after a scandalous investigation into allegations of fake job contracts lured unsuspecting South American workers to New Zealand. Though Buildhub wriggled free of criminal charges earlier this month, the stench of controversy lingers.
In a shocking twist, a letter to the doomed employees on February 16 revealed accusations of stolen hours’ and underhanded tactics, painting a picture of a company besieged by deceit from within and without. Buildhub’s dramatic fall from grace was blamed on workers gaming the system, engaging in dodgy dealings for cash, and a conspiracy to exploit immigration loopholes.
The plot thickens with the resignation of previous director Mariela Andrea Ehijo Contreras, followed swiftly by the appointment of Daniel Ramirez Ordas. Yet, in a final act of defiance, Buildhub’s liquidation announcement claimed innocence, slinging mud at former employees whose allegations were dismissed as ‘false, fabricated, or taken out of context’.
The appointment of Gareth Russel Hoole as liquidator marks the end of an era for Buildhub, but for the migrant workers left in its wake, the saga is far from over. Norma Schwenke of charity Mano Amiga reveals the heart-wrenching plight of these individuals, many of whom are still awaiting pay and reeling from the shock of Buildhub’s demise.
Tales of sacrifice, like that of plumber Fernando Gonzalez who plunged into debt for a chance at a new life, and architect Victor Ortega’s warning of a sinister web of deceit, underscore the human cost of this corporate tragedy.
As Buildhub’s website boasts of its once-thriving business, the real story is one of shattered dreams and a desperate scramble for justice. Immigration New Zealand’s vow to navigate these troubled waters offers a glimmer of hope, but for many, the damage has already been done.
