Media Release
14 June 2004

Government Birthplace Policy Change Too Good To Be True

Just when you thought this Government was about to act to close an immigration loophole exploited by thousands of people each year they have sold out to PC evangelists, says New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters.

Mr Peters’ comments come as the Internal Affairs Minister today assured the public that any change to the law which allows any person born in New Zealand to automatically be granted citizenship would not come as a result of the Identity (Citizenship and Travel Documents) Bill which is to be introduced to the House this month.

“Labour is well aware of the Members Bill currently in the ballot in the name of my New Zealand First colleague Edwin Perry, which seeks to ensure that any child born in New Zealand must be the child of a New Zealand citizen, in order for the child to acquire citizenship by virtue of being born in New Zealand”, said Mr Peters.

“The problem is they would rather pander to the bleeding heart soft touch policy proponents than adopt sensible New Zealand First policy which would stop these citizenship opportunists in their tracks.

“Unfortunately, it seems the only thing New Zealanders can do to stop this problem is to hope that Mr Perry’s Citizenship (New Zealand Citizens’ Birthright) Amendment Bill emerges from the ballot as Labour clearly has no interest in protecting the integrity of New Zealand citizenship and stopping this flagrant abuse of our system”, said Mr Peters

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>