Newshub has uncovered more details about a complex immigration scam that's sparked a major Immigration New Zealand probe into multiple companies and individuals.
It comes as Minister Andrew Little revealed companies engaged in such schemes could have their assets frozen under the Criminal Proceeds Act.
Our cameras were there as men packed up their things and left the Papakura home that once housed 40 exploited Indian migrants. They're moving on from their nightmare start in New Zealand.
"Some of them have got job offers, which is great. And others are doing the interviews through MSD [Ministry of Social Development] as well, and through some employers who have directly approached them," said Union Network of Migrants president Mandeep Bela.
Meanwhile, Newshub can reveal more about the investigation into this mess. One of the companies that offered the migrants jobs that never eventuated has admitted it accepted money from Indian agents who helped bring the migrants to New Zealand.
The company director told us these types of backhander schemes are "rampant" - a claim we put to Immigration Minister Andrew Little.
"We know it is true in some cases," he told Newshub.
"If employers are doing that then they are almost certainly committing a criminal offence [and] that is why we have a number of investigations underway into a number of employers.
"Employers who are acting in that way, and who face charges can expect to see assets frozen until criminal charges are processed."
The same company that called scenes like these "rampant" is now in liquidation, raising questions about its financial viability to employ immigrants in the first place.
Little is promising greater scrutiny.
"Look much more closely at their viability, the size of the company and we now have a requirement that of those companies - the labour hire companies, the triangular employer companies - at least 35 percent of their workforce must be New Zealand domestic workers," Little said.
Advocates say these men were the tip of the iceberg. They suspect tens of thousands of others are being exploited.
"We have been hearing directly from a lot of the migrants as well who have been charged tens of thousands of dollars either through migrants offshore or directly by the employers who are conducting their businesses in New Zealand," Bela said.
As those on the receiving end, a search for a fresh start.
