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.”

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