Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader
15 November 2012

NZ Door Swings Wide Open For International Criminals

New Zealand First says international criminals will flood into the country through the Government’s “special arrangement” for China Southern Airlines’ (CSA) frequent fliers to dodge visa checks.

Rt Hon Winston Peters says Immigration Minister Nathan Guy not only ignored advice from his officials about introducing the scheme which places New Zealand’s border security at serious risk.

“Even the New Zealand Police warn on their website about Asian crime syndicates being involved in extortion, drug trafficking, identity fraud, and people smuggling.

“Over the past couple of months alone there have been police crackdowns on Asian gangs in Spain and Australia engaged in this sort of criminal activity.

“It will be our turn once this outrageous visa fast-track ‘special arrangement’ opens up New Zealand’s borders to criminals who regularly fly with the Chinese Communist Government-owned CSA.”

Mr Peters says it’s clear that Auckland’s Sky City Casino lobbied the New Zealand Government to fast-track CSA frequent fliers into the country.

“It is inconceivable that the Government would listen to Sky City when the Department of Internal Affairs has warned of concerns about money laundering in New Zealand,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

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Arguably Reassuring: Inspector-General Finds GCSB "Arguably" Legal

Of the 88 individuals:

• 15 cases involving 22 individuals did not have any information intercepted by GCSB.

• another four cases involving five individuals were the subjects of a New Zealand Security Intelligence Service warrant and the GCSB assisted in the execution of the warrants. The Inspector-General is of the view that there were arguably no breaches and the law is unclear.

• the Bureau only provided technical assistance which did not involve interception of communications, involving three of the individuals, so no breach occurred.

• the remaining cases involved the collection of metadata, and the Inspector-General formed the view that there had arguably been no breach, noting once again that the law is unclear.
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