MANA requests “house call” from Minister of Immigration to discuss immigration policy
(sorry we don’t have a big donation to make to National)
John Minto, MANA Movement Co-Vice President
Tuesday 13 May 2014
MANA co-vice President John Minto has sent a request to Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse for the Minister to make
a house call to discuss Pasifika immigration to New Zealand as well as the awful situation facing a local Pasifika
family.
The request follows the Minister making a house call to a wealthy Chinese businessman and generous donor to the National
Party Donghua Liu.
“Last week the Minister acknowledged he made the house call to Liu in Newmarket, didn’t see anything wrong with it and
said that National treats everyone the same – whether rich or poor – and whether or not they donate to National. This is
a chance for him to put his money where his mouth is and make a call at my home” said Mr Minto.
“MANA wants to discuss with the Minister why the government discriminates against Pacific people from Tonga and Samoa
while it puts out the welcome mat for anyone from Australia – irrespective of skills or any other criteria. An
Australian can get off the plane, get a job and no-one bats an eyelid but Tongan and Samoan people face demeaning
discrimination to enter New Zealand.”
“We also want to discuss the matter of a struggling family of three children, one of whom has a medical condition which
a medical expert said would be exacerbated in a hot Pacific climate and advised strongly against the child being forced
to live there (the child was born in New Zealand). To add to the financial hardship from large legal bills, the family
has had to pay large medical bills for the child’s treatment at Middlemore Hospital because as non-residents they had to
pay for what we take for granted.”
“Despite all this the family have been repeatedly rejected for residency or even for a work permit and have been left in
a precarious position.”
“This house call will be a chance for the Minister to set this situation right for this family”.
“I hope to meet the Minister this week at my home here.”
ENDS