Independent enquiry called for on Immigration head’s actions
The Kiwi Party
Press Release
April 19, 2008
Independent enquiry called for on Immigration head’s actions.
Kiwi Party Leader Larry Baldock today called for Mary- Anne Thompson, head of Immigration NZ to stand down while an
independent enquiry is conducted.
“Giving special help to a family member is a serous offence. This is the kind of abuse of power we believe is happening
in many areas of the Immigration New Zealand and it is no wonder if this is the example from the top”, he said.
Mr Baldock said, “how can INZ be called to clean up its act when the head of the service is found to have broken its
code of conduct and gets away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket?”
The Kiwi Immigration Watch was launched on April 11th by former MP Bernie Ogilvy and former Immigration officer Allan
Hughes to try and shed some light on complaints of unsatisfactory processes within INZ made by many, particularly within
the Auckland area.
The Kiwi Party gave its support to the initiative after hearing many stories of injustice from those having to deal with
the INZ.
Independent MP Gordon Copeland, who is the Kiwi Party’s representative in Parliament, has also been working hard to
address serious flaws, including unlawful actions by INZ, in a number of cases which have been brought to his
attention. He lends his support to the Party's call for a full independent enquiry by the State Services Commission.
Ends.