13 December 1999

UNITED NEW ZEALAND CALLS FOR END TO DISCRIMINATORY POLICY ON VISITORS' VISAS

United New Zealand Party leader, Hon Peter Dunne, is calling on the new Government to change the current policy regarding the issue of visitors' visas to young, single people.

He says the current policy is racist.

"Young, single people from the Pacific and Asia are all routinely treated as potential overstayers."

"Consequently, the New Zealand Immigration Service, in Suva and New Delhi in particular, almost automatically rejects their applications for visas to visit family and friends here."

"This is blatant racial discrimination and a reprehensible policy in a civilised society," he says.

Mr Dunne says he approached the former Immigration Minister about this, but without any success, but he is hopeful that new Minister Lianne Dalziel will be more sympathetic.

"It is hypocritical for New Zealand to be speaking out against human rights abuses in other countries while following such a discriminatory immigration policy at home," he says.

ENDS
New Zealand's Liberal Party

MEDIA STATEMENT
HON PETER DUNNE, MP
LEADER UNITED NEW ZEALAND
Parliament Buildings, Wellington 1.
h (04)471 9410 or (025) 469 808. Fax (04)499 7266.
e-mail: peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz. Internet Address: http://www.united.org.nz

New Zealand's Liberal Party

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