New Zealand First has accused the government of wasting $82,888 searching for, and legislating against, a ship of boat
people that never existed.
“The so-called Chinese Boat People are a myth. The Minister of Immigration, Turariki Delamere, cited photos as evidence.
Nowhere in the photos does the name of this supposed vessel – the Alexandra II – appear”, said Gilbert Myles.
Australian and New Zealand immigration and military officials went into panic mode searching for these ghosts to deny
them entry. Despite powerful dual-nation technology, they were never found.
“The Minister spent $3,468 per hour on the search and plunged the House into urgency over this nonsense. Heated debate
suggested we were about to be over-run by refugees who were to be held in prison upon their arrival.
“Now I have heard from contacts in the Pacific region that the whole story started after tourists sank a few beers on a
beach in Honoria, and started a rumour about these boat people.
“The Minister has jumped to an expensive and time-wasting conclusion”, said Mr Myles.
“I challenge him to produce either the ship or the people”.
ENDS