Immigration Minister's Deception Over Defunct Category
New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters has asked the Immigration Minister to apologise and explain exactly how
many people have been granted residence under the “homosexual family member” category that was abolished three years
ago.
Mr Peters said that the latest case involved two letters which had been written by the New Zealand Immigration Service
in the last six months and the Minister, knowing this, went on nationwide media yesterday to deliberately mislead the
country.
“With her usual bluster, the Minister attacked New Zealand First rather than admitting that someone in the New Zealand
Immigration Service is granting residence under an obsolete category - or is there something else happening?
“These blunders are causing embarrassment and concern to people who are making proper applications. This is a further
example of how incompetent she is. Her officials have already told her that she was wrong.
“We totally agree that such a category should not exist – so why is it still being used?
“Lianne Dalziel had this information all the time. How many deceptions does this Minister have to engage in before Helen
Clark fires her?” asked Mr Peters.
“After all, the Prime Minister went on public record yesterday defending her and it is easy to see now why she did not
want Parliamentary question time.”