Media Statement
Thursday, 24 September

Hon Peter Dunne
MP for Ohariu
Leader of UnitedFuture

Nine-year-old kids should be with their parents, says Dunne

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has spoken out strongly against suggestions children as young as nine could come to New Zealand as unaccompanied overseas students.

“I think the idea is plain daft – and grossly unfair to the children themselves.

“A nine-year-old is simply too young and immature to be packed off to another country, with a new language and culture, and then to be expected to thrive in that new environment.

“Their place is with their parents,” he said.

Mr Dunne said that older overseas students already face considerable problems fitting into a new country when they come here, and to extend that down to 9 year olds is just “plain cruel.”

ENDS

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