Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Dawn Raid To Deport Helen Clark's Husband

Immigration Service Uses Dawn Raid To Deport Helen Clark's Husband

The Minister of Immigration must pull her department into line after two recent examples of heavy-handed behaviour, National's Immigration spokesperson Marie Hasler said today.

"Earlier this week we had the case of a ten year old child taken from her adoptive parents and thrown into a Police holding cell. That lead footed handling of an incident by Immigration Service officials will certainly have traumatised the child.

"Today another story has come to light, of Raukawa woman Helen Clark, whose Scottish husband was seized by Police at 7am on a Sunday morning. The raid occurred on Mothers Day, and Mrs Clark's three children will certainly be traumatised by the deportation of their stepfather.

"The handling of this incident appears to have been extremely gung ho, with Kenny Clark reportedly arrested after police, at the instruction of the Immigration Service, entered the couple's home through an open door at 7am and surprised them in the bedroom. Kenny Clark was reportedly pepper-sprayed by Police and was not even allowed to say goodbye to his wife.

"While I don't want to get into an argument about the details of this case, it is clear that this deportation - as with the seizure of 10 year old Cristine Tilo - was handled with a lack of sensitivity by the Immigration Service. Where children are concerned, as was the case with Helen Clark's children and Cristine Tilo, officials should be using kid gloves, not jackboots.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

"I also challenge the logic of anyone who would not define a 7am raid on a Sunday in the middle of winter, when it is pitch black outside, as a 'dawn raid'.

"Lianne Dalziel will no doubt continue to dance on the head of a pin over the definition of dawn - but the public was promised 'no more dawn raids' and when they see people seized from their beds before sunrise on a Sunday morning they will make their own judgement," Marie Hasler said.

Ends


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.