No Place in NZ for Anyone Supporting Forced Marriages

Forced marriages have no place in New Zealand, nor do any of the people who adhere to such traditions, says New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“Anyone who immigrates here, or takes refuge in New Zealand, must comply by our laws, traditions and culture and abuse of women is against the law.

“But National’s fast and furious, no questions asked open-door immigration is importing a landslide of problems to New Zealand, which we have warned would happen, including coercive, illegal behaviour around forced marriages.

“Immigration, now a record 114,000 people a year, is out of control. There is clearly not enough scrutiny to determine the true intentions of people coming here,” says Mr Peters, Member of Parliament for Northland.

“This is a numbers game when, in fact, individuals wanting to live or take refuge here should be interviewed and assessed on their true intentions.

“The cost of open slather immigration is high for the taxpayer as agencies deal with the fallout from mistreatment and physical and psychological abuse.

“The police are now on the alert and are being told to be aware of coercive relationships, dowry-related abuse, bride burning and acid attacks.

“If police have got to this point then immigration has gone too far. It must be wound back.

“New Zealand First has already responded to calls from Shakti, which supports victims, and we support the call for better laws to battle this imported problem. We want a law that states 16 year olds and 17 year olds can only marry with special dispensation from a Family Court judge.”

ENDS

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