Deportee
Written By:
- Date published:
12:48 pm, December 2nd, 2015 - 103 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, australian politics, crime, International, Kelvin Davis, Minister for International Embarrassment, workers' rights -
Tags: australia, deportation, john key, kelvin davis
In a world awash with people transiting from one country to another, it’s rare to meet someone who has moved involuntarily, under the threat of being shipped from his urban incarceration to a far worse prison island thousands of miles away.
We are sadly familiar with news of migrant families who risk everything to get to a better life.
We are less exposed to the reality of people who have no reasonable option but to leave their families behind, to never again see their home, to lose everything they own, and not even get to hug their child one last time.
But that’s the situation faced by of New Zealand’s newest immigrants. I’m not going to identify him. I’ll call him Doug for the purposes of this post. Doug’s home is Australia, but his passport says he’s a Kiwi. He’s been in New Zealand for a few days, his first time back here since his parents took him across the Tasman as a toddler a couple of decades ago.
He left New Zealand in short pants, and returned in handcuffs, with nothing much more than a bag of clothes and his strong Ocker accent. Doug’s a 501er. A deportee.
Does he want to be here?
Does he fuck.
Doug respects his Kiwi heritage, but his life is in Australia. His mum, his siblings, his son. They’re there, he’s here.
And it’s not bloody fair, mate.
I meet Doug at his rellie’s suburban home in a provincial city. He’s bright, clear eyed and thoughtful. He chain smokes rollies throughout the interview. Afterwards, as I leave, I see him in the backyard, sitting in the sun on a wooden stool, smoking yet another ciggie and texting on a budget cellphone. Not texting anyone here in NZ, obviously. All the Kiwis he knows are in the house behind me.
Curiously, one of the things Doug was given on arrival was a guide on how to deal with the media. There were a couple of journos at the airport, but he gave them the flick. I’m glad he chose to speak to me. I’ve edited some answers to avoid specific identifying details, and while Doug was open and honest with me, I’ve chosen to omit some of the more harrowing aspects of how the process has left him emotionally. All I’ll say is that he’s doing it tough.
Thanks to Standard readers and authors who suggested questions. I start by asking Doug about his life in Australia.
TRP: Where’s home?
Doug: Sydney, out west. Never even left the state, really. Never been up the east coast or anything.
Were you working?
Yep, owned a business, employed 4 subbies. We supplied goods and services to retailers.
But you ended up in jail. How long for?
I was sentenced to two months, but when I was due for parole, I was told that they were going to send me to NZ and when I said I’d appeal, they said I’d have to serve the parole inside. So they locked me up for the length of the parole period. Another six months.
What happened to the business?
It’s gone. It crumbled. I couldn’t run it from jail and couldn’t sell it from there either. No cellphones, no internet. I was moved around from centre to centre. I couldn’t keep up.
You’ve had some previous issues?
Yep. Look, I grew up in the Western suburbs. It wasn’t easy. It’s tough. I made mistakes, but I paid for them, cleaned up, got it together. I’ve rented a bit, but mostly lived with mum.
Doug and I talk more about his life in Australia. About league, about cricket, about growing up in the vast western suburbs of Sydney. He’s open about going off track as a young man. But he says he’s clean and he looks it. He looks me straight in the eye when he answers questions. No bullshit.
He’s a physically strong young man, fit and quietly powerful in his manner. Not threatening, but self-assured. But that strength disappeared when we talk about his family.
All his siblings are there. His mum. His son. Doug’s boy lives with his ex. She’s since remarried and when I ask him if she’d bring their son to visit him here in NZ, the façade crumbles. It’s obvious that it’s not going to happen. I look at him and wished I hadn’t asked.
TRP: When did you realise you were going to be deported?
Doug: Well, I got some warnings that it might happen in the past, but it didn’t seem real. I wasn’t a rapist or a murderer, y’know? I’m not a threat to national security! And I was over my younger stuff. I just didn’t think it would happen to me.
What’s the mood of the Kiwis in the detention facility?
Frustrated, desperate. It’s not too bad in some ways, better than jail. There’s no work, but there are activities. Family access is better, too. Much better than jail. But it’s hard taking civil action in there. It’s difficult to organise. There’s a lot of depression. The asylum seekers too.
A week ago, in the detention centre, you were given a choice; Christmas Island or NZ. That’s right?
They got a few of us Kiwis together then one by one put papers in front of us. They told us if we didn’t volunteer to be deported to NZ, we’d be off to Christmas Island then and there. I had enough, I signed. I read the papers after I signed.
Why not go to Christmas Island?
Well, we knew a bit about it from guys who’d been in and out of there and from the news. We had TV and some internet access in the detention centre. It wasn’t a good option. My mum made me promise I’d go to NZ if they threatened me with Christmas Island.
We talk for a while about the residency appeal process. Despite John Key’s assurance that the deportees could easily appeal from here, there’s a snag.
First they have to pay back the Australian Federal Government the cost of the flight home.
Not just their flight, but return fares for the two cops who accompany each deportee on the plane. The best part of three grand before they can even get started. That minor detail must have gone down Key’s memory hole.
And the appeal process is deemed to have started when he was first moved to an immigration detention centre.
All the work done on his behalf and all the letters he sent himself from prison didn’t count. He sent dozens of letters fighting for his residency. Immigration claim they only received one. He lost two months of the appeal process without even knowing it.
TRP: When you were given the choice of Christmas Island or voluntary deportation, did you have access to a lawyer?
Doug: No, it was sign or else. No lawyer. I did have help in my residency appeal, but no legal aid. It’s thousands to fight deportation and get residency, $5 -10 thousand minimum. But I think I had nearly got the appeal granted and my residency sorted and maybe that’s why they moved on me in the detention centre.
Did you have reasonable choices?
Not really. It wasn’t so bad in the detention centre because we had better communication, cellphones, but not smartphones, and I could meet the immigration case officer. But I don’t think that would be the case on Christmas Island. The process is designed to break you down. And it did. I was falling apart. So I signed the papers.
Did your family see you off at the airport?
No, they weren’t allowed. I was handcuffed from the centre to the airport and put on the plane. They only took the cuffs off on board. I guess they didn’t want to scare the stewardesses.
Despite John Key’s assurances that leaving Australia is a good option, there is no extra support immediately available. Effectively, it’s just like he’s just been released from a Kiwi prison, but he’s committed no crime here. There is no immediate help for the extraordinary psychological strain he is dealing with. No ongoing counselling, no guidance to orientate him to his new life.
TRP: What did you know about deportation to NZ?
Doug: I saw Key on TV saying it was a good idea to go. He said we could fight it from NZ and we’d be free.
But you’re not free. You have conditions put on you haven’t you? You’re kind of on parole here, aren’t you?
Yep. It’s parole. The guys from Corrections have been good, I think they are sorting a benefit out, but the town I’m in is pretty small. It’s like a farm! And there’s no work. I’ll probably have to move to Wellington or Auckland. I want to work.
How were the police when you arrived?
Good. Really good! The police and the parole people were really helpful. It was funny, really. The police and the corrections guys had the new laws with them at the airport and they had to keep reading them to work out what they were supposed to do. It’s all new to them too.
John Key said you could fight it from NZ. Now that you’re here, do you think that’s realistic?
No, not really. Your chances drop, because you’re no longer a priority. You’re gone.
I met Doug in the provincial city he has been relocated to. He’s being put up by relatives. They’ve never met before, but they are the only people in New Zealand whose names he knows. It’s been weird for them, too. They were vetted by Corrections and their home given the once over. It’s not like they asked to be in this situation, but they’re determined to help.
TRP: What about the locals? Have you been asked why you’re here?
Doug: Actually, a taxi driver asked if I was one of the deported and I also got asked in a coffee shop. I told them I was a tourist.
What would you say to the Australian Government?
Lighten up! Relax the laws, its hurting people who aren’t really a risk. I understand for murderers and serious crims, but … But Turnbull is pretty firm and the immigration minister, Dutton, he’s evil.
What would you say to the NZ Government?
There’s not a lot NZ can do. It’s nothing to do with New Zealand. That meeting (Key and Turnbull) did nothing.
What can ordinary Kiwi’s do?
Not much. In Oz there’s a facebook page, iwi, which has some good stuff and there was Kelvin.
Kelvin Davis? The MP?
Yep. I heard he went to Christmas Island. But there’s not much Kiwis can do, really.
Doug does have the support of his relatives here in NZ. But he’s staying with people he’s never previously met. They’re his blood, but they’re strangers, too. I’m struck by just how wonderful it is that they would take him in. They’re not judging him, they’re not prying into his life. They’re just there for him because it’s the right thing to do.
But they’re not counsellors, and it’s pretty clear that being exiled from all he knows is taking a toll on Doug. He’s bewildered by what’s happened, unsure of what his future will be and he is desperately missing his family.
Everything Doug knew, loved and relied on is gone from his life.
He’s a stranger in a strange land, a man alone.
TRP: Is this fair? The deportation?
Doug. No. Definitely not.
What do you want to do?
I want to go home.
tereoputake@gmail.com
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Last month, National passed a racist law requiring local councils to remove their Māori wards, or hold a referendum on them at the 2025 local body election. The final councils voted today, and the verdict is in: an overwhelming rejection. Only two councils out of 45 supported National's racist agenda ...1 week ago
- Homage to Simeon Brown
1 week ago
- Government of deceit
When National cut health spending and imposed a commissioner on Te Whatu Ora, they claimed that it was necessary because the organisation was bloated and inefficient, with "14 layers of management between the CEO and the patient". But it turns out they were simply lying: Health Minister Shane Reti’s ...1 week ago
- The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all
Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...1 week ago - Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024
Welcome to another Friday and another roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. As always, this and every post is brought to you by the Greater Auckland crew. If you like our work and you’d like to see more of it, we invite you to join our regular ...1 week ago
- Release: Māori business not a priority for this Govt
Scrapping the Progressive Procurement programme designed to support and grow Māori businesses is a missed opportunity. ...2 hours ago - Release: March 15 inquiry grants cut by Government
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has cut grants helping overseas family of victims to attend the next phase of the Coronial Inquiry into the 15 March 2019 Christchurch Masjidain Attack. ...2 hours ago
- Minister of Injustice seeks to Entrench largest land confiscation in History
The Waitangi Tribunal has released an Urgent Report on the Government’s proposed amendments to the Takutai Moana Act 2011. The report calls out Paul Goldsmith’s proposal for what it is: a “gross breach of the Treaty” and an “illegitimate exercise of kāwanatanga”. The Tribunal is recommending the Crown step down ...2 days ago
- Takutai Moana changes another assault on Te Tiriti
The Government must abandon its Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act interventions after the Waitangi Tribunal found it was committing gross breaches of the Treaty. ...2 days ago - Greens call on Govt to leave Te Reo in schools alone
As Te Wiki o te Reo Māori approaches, the Government is considering deprioritising teaching Te Reo Māori in our schools. ...2 days ago
- Govt cannot ignore racism
The Government’s directive to the public service to ignore race is nothing more than a dog whistle and distraction from the structural racism we need to address. ...2 days ago
- Release: Lemauga Lydia Sosene to take medical leave
Labour’s Mangere MP Lemauga Lydia Sosene has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will shortly take medical leave. ...2 days ago
- Potential intelligence sharing with Israel must be investigated
Concerns have been raised that our spy arrangements may mean that intelligence is being shared between Aotearoa and Israel. An urgent inquiry must be launched in response to this. ...3 days ago
- Release: Charter schools undermine our education system
The Government is taking a wrecking ball to our public education system by reinstating charter schools. ...3 days ago
- Youngest MP to travel to Canada to accept Politician of the Year Award
Aotearoa’s Youngest Member of Parliament, and Te Pāti Māori MP, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, will travel to Montreal to accept the One Young World Politician of the Year Award next week. The One Young World Politician of the Year Award was created in 2018 to recognise the most promising young politicians between ...3 days ago
- Greens celebrate huge step forward for ADHD community
The Greens welcome today’s long-coming announcement by Pharmac of consultation to remove the special authority renewal criteria for methylphenidate, dexamfetamine and modafinil and to fund lisdexamfetamine. ...3 days ago
- Release: Millions to be spent dividing NZ for no reason
The National Party is wasting millions of dollars allowing David Seymour’s Treaty Principals Bill to be drafted and go to Select Committee. ...3 days ago
- Release: New Zealanders departing our shores at a record rate
The Migration figures released by Stats NZ today show National is continuing to drive Kiwis away from New Zealand in record numbers. ...3 days ago
- Te Tai Tokerau MP Slams Govt Overreach in Scrapping Māori Wards
Mema Paremata for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, has reflected on the decisions made by the councils of the North amidst the government’s push to remove Māori Wards and weaken mana whenua representation. “Actions taken by the Kaipara District Council to remove Māori Wards are the embodiment of the eradication ...4 days ago
- Govt already seeking advice on Treaty referendum
On one hand, the Prime Minister has assured Aotearoa that his party will not support the Treaty Principles Bill beyond first reading, but on the other, his Government has already sought advice on holding a referendum on our founding document. ...4 days ago
- Release: Aged care will be worse off if redesign rushed
New Zealanders needing aged care support and the people who care for them will be worse off if the Government pushes through a flawed and rushed redesign of dementia and aged care. ...4 days ago
- Release: Govt fails hundreds of workers as mills close
Labour is devastated at news hundreds of workers are set to lose their jobs following the closure of Winstone Pulp mills. ...4 days ago
- Job losses from mill closures consequence of Govt inaction
Hundreds of jobs lost as a result of pulp mill closures in the Ruapehu District are a consequence of government inaction in addressing the shortfalls of our electricity network. ...5 days ago
- Ngarewa-Packer devastated for Ruapehu following WPI closure
Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader and MP for Te Tai Hauāuru is devastated for the Ruapehu community following today’s decision to close two Winstone Pulp mills. “My heart goes out to all the workers, their whānau, and the wider Ruapehu community affected by the closure of Winstone Pulp International,” said Ngarewa-Packer. ...5 days ago
- Release: Cabinet should stop the Treaty Principles Bill
National Party Ministers have a majority in Cabinet and can stop David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill, which even the Prime Minister has described as “divisive and unhelpful.” ...6 days ago
- Release: Staff gagged to keep fast track list secret
The National Government is so determined to hide the list of potential projects that will avoid environmental scrutiny it has gagged Ministry for the Environment staff from talking about it. ...6 days ago
- Release: Labour challenges Te Whatu Ora gag orders
Labour has complained to the Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission about the high number of non-disclosure agreements that have effectively gagged staff at Te Whatu Ora Health NZ from talking about anything relating to their work. ...6 days ago
- Greens call on Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned after letter from Christian leaders
The Green Party is once again urging the Prime Minister to abandon the Treaty Principles Bill as a letter from more than 400 Christian leaders calls for the proposed legislation to be dropped. ...6 days ago
- Sign the petition: Keep military-style firearms off our streets
Help us tell the Government that reintroducing military-style firearms should not be up for debate. ...1 week ago
- Vast majority of councils support Māori wards
Councils across the country have now decided where they stand regarding Māori wards, with a resounding majority in favour of keeping them in what is a significant setback for the Government. ...1 week ago
- Release: Government on the wrong side of Māori wards
The National-led government has been given a clear message from the local government sector, as almost all councils reject the Government’s bid to treat Māori wards different to other wards. ...1 week ago
- Release: Labour congratulates Kuīni Ngā Wai hono i te po Paki
The Labour Party congratulates Kuīni Ngā Wai hono i te po Paki on being crowned as the eighth Te Ariki Nui – head of Te Kiingitanga. ...1 week ago
- Green Party welcomes new Maaori Kuiini
The Green Party welcomes the coronation of the new Maaori Kuiini, Te Arikinui Nga Wai Hono i te Po, today in Turangawaewae. ...1 week ago
- ECE teachers deserve better than this Government
The Green Party is unsurprised but disappointed by today’s announcement from the Government that will see our Early Childhood Centre teachers undermined and pay parity pushed further out of reach. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent intervention needed on supermarkets
The Green Party is calling on the Government to intervene in the supermarket duopoly dominating our supply of groceries following today’s report from the Commerce Commission. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Rainbow youth neglected in mental health funding
Labour backs the call from The Rainbow Support Collective members for mental health funding specifically earmarked for grassroots and peer led community organisations to be set up in a way that they are able to access. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Transport in NZ has to be more than just roads
As expected, the National Land Transport Programme lacks ambition for our cities and our country’s rail network and puts the majority of investment into roads. ...2 weeks ago
- Speech: Barbara Edmonds Building Nations 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa, Thank you for your warm welcome and for having my colleagues and I here today. Earlier you heard from the Labour Leader, Chris Hipkins, on our vision for the future of infrastructure. I want to build on his comments and provide further detail on some key elements ...2 weeks ago
- Govt transport plan deepens fossil fuel fix
The Green Party says the Government’s new National Land Transport Programme marks another missed opportunity to take meaningful action to fight the climate crisis. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call for public to back Wrybill in BOTY and beyond
The Green Party is calling on the public to support the Ngutu Pare Wrybill not just in this year’s Bird of the Year competition but also in pushing back against policies that could lead to the destruction of its habitat and accelerate its extinction. ...2 weeks ago
- Building consents data bad news for construction
News that the annual number of building consents granted for new homes fell by more than 20 percent for the year ended July 2024, is bad news for the construction industry. ...2 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori Pay Tribute to Kiingi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII
Papā te whatitiri, hikohiko te uira, i kanapu ki te rangi, i whētuki i raro rā, rū ana te whenua e. Uea te pou o tōku whare kia tū tangata he kapua whakairi nāku nā runga o Taupiri. Ko taku kiri ka tōkia ki te anu mātao. E te iwi ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Gaps still to be addressed in callouts response
The Government must guarantee New Zealanders will not be at risk after making changes to the way mental health callouts are handled. ...2 weeks ago
- Poroporoaki: Kiingi Tuheitia passing
Haere e te Kīngi o te kotahitangi Haere ki o nui, ki o rahi I te pō ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party pays respects to Kiingi Tuuheitia
The Green Party is paying tribute to the Māori King, Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero XVII, after he passed away earlier this morning. ...2 weeks ago
- Draft critical minerals list released for consultation
A draft list of minerals deemed essential to New Zealand’s economy and strengthening its mineral resilience has been released for consultation, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The draft Critical Minerals List identifies 35 minerals essential to economic functions, are in demand internationally, and face high risk of supply disruption domestically ...57 mins ago - Government eliminates $190 million in trade barriers to boost the economy
The Government has successfully removed trade barriers affecting nearly $190 million worth of exports to help grow the economy, Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay today announced. “In the past year, we have resolved 14 Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs), returning significant value to kiwi exporters. These efforts directly boost our ...7 hours ago
- Reo Māori the ‘beating heart’ of Aotearoa New Zealand
From private business to the Paris Olympics, reo Māori is growing with the success of New Zealanders, says Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka. “I’m joining New Zealanders across the country in celebrating this year’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week, which has a big range ...1 day ago
- Need and value at forefront of public service delivery
New Cabinet policy directives will ensure public agencies prioritise public services on the basis of need and award Government contracts on the basis of public value, Minister for the Public Service Nicola Willis says. “Cabinet Office has today issued a circular to central government organisations setting out the Government’s expectations ...2 days ago
- Minister to attend Police Ministers Council Meeting
Police Minister Mark Mitchell will join with Australian Police Ministers and Commissioners at the Police Ministers Council meeting (PMC) today in Melbourne. “The council is an opportunity to come together to discuss a range of issues, gain valuable insights on areas of common interest, and different approaches towards law enforcement ...2 days ago
- New Bill to crack down on youth vaping
The coalition Government has introduced legislation to tackle youth vaping, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) is aimed at preventing youth vaping. “While vaping has contributed to a significant fall in our smoking rates, the rise in youth vaping ...3 days ago
- Interest in agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review welcomed
Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have welcomed interest in the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review. The review by the Ministry for Regulation is looking at how to speed up the process to get farmers and growers access to the safe, ...3 days ago
- Bill to allow online charity lotteries passes first reading
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government is moving at pace to ensure lotteries for charitable purposes are allowed to operate online permanently. Charities fundraising online, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and local hospices will continue to do ...3 days ago
- Tax exempt threshold changes to benefit startups
Technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds of exempt employee share schemes, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Revenue Minister Simon Watts say. Tax exempt thresholds for the schemes are increasing as part of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024-25, Emergency ...3 days ago
- Getting the healthcare you need, when you need it
The path to faster cancer treatment, an increase in immunisation rates, shorter stays in emergency departments and quick assessment and treatments when you are sick has been laid out today. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has revealed details of how the ambitious health targets the Government has set will be ...3 days ago
- Targeted supports to accelerate reading
The coalition Government is delivering targeted and structured literacy supports to accelerate learning for struggling readers. From Term 1 2025, $33 million of funding for Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Support will be reprioritised to interventions which align with structured approaches to teaching. “Structured literacy will change the way children ...3 days ago
- Survivors invited to Abuse in Care national apology
With two months until the national apology to survivors of abuse in care, expressions of interest have opened for survivors wanting to attend. “The Prime Minister will deliver a national apology on Tuesday 12 November in Parliament. It will be a very significant day for survivors, their families, whānau and ...3 days ago
- Rangatahi inspire at Ngā Manu Kōrero final
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini kē - My success is not mine alone but is the from the strength of the many. Aotearoa New Zealand’s top young speakers are an inspiration for all New Zealanders to learn more about the depth and beauty conveyed ...3 days ago
- Driving structured literacy in schools
The coalition Government is driving confidence in reading and writing in the first years of schooling. “From the first time children step into the classroom, we’re equipping them and teachers with the tools they need to be brilliant in literacy. “From 1 October, schools and kura with Years 0-3 will receive ...4 days ago
- Labour’s misleading information is disappointing
Labour’s misinformation about firearms law is dangerous and disappointing, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says. “Labour and Ginny Andersen have repeatedly said over the past few days that the previous Labour Government completely banned semi-automatic firearms in 2019 and that the Coalition Government is planning to ‘reintroduce’ them. ...4 days ago
- Govt takes action on mpox response, widens access to vaccine
The Government is taking immediate action on a number of steps around New Zealand’s response to mpox, including improving access to vaccine availability so people who need it can do so more easily, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. “Mpox is obviously a ...4 days ago
- Next steps agreed for Treaty Principles Bill
Associate Justice Minister David Seymour says Cabinet has agreed to the next steps for the Treaty Principles Bill. “The Treaty Principles Bill provides an opportunity for Parliament, rather than the courts, to define the principles of the Treaty, including establishing that every person is equal before the law,” says Mr Seymour. “Parliament ...4 days ago
- Government unlocking potential of AI
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced a programme to drive Artificial Intelligence (AI) uptake among New Zealand businesses. “The AI Activator will unlock the potential of AI for New Zealand businesses through a range of support, including access to AI research experts, technical assistance, AI tools and resources, ...4 days ago
- Government releases Wairoa flood review findings
The independent rapid review into the Wairoa flooding event on 26 June 2024 has been released, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “We welcome the review’s findings and recommendations to strengthen Wairoa's resilience against future events,” Ms ...4 days ago
- Promoting faster payment times for government
The Government is sending a clear message to central government agencies that they must prioritise paying invoices in a timely manner, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly says. Data released today promotes transparency by publishing the payment times of each central government agency. This data will be published quarterly ...4 days ago
- Acknowledgement to Kīngi Tuheitia speech
E te māngai o te Whare Pāremata, kua riro māku te whakaputa i te waka ki waho moana. E te Pirimia tēnā koe.Mr Speaker, it is my privilege to take this adjournment kōrero forward. Prime Minister – thank you for your leadership. Taupiri te maunga Waikato te awa Te Wherowhero ...5 days ago
- Interim fix to GST adjustment rules to support businesses
Inland Revenue can begin processing GST returns for businesses affected by a historic legislative drafting error, Revenue Minister Simon Watts says. “Inland Revenue has become aware of a legislative drafting error in the GST adjustment rules after changes were made in 2023 which were meant to simplify the process. This ...5 days ago
- Strong uptake for cervical screening self-test
More than 80 per cent of New Zealand women being tested have opted for a world-leading self-test for cervical screening since it became available a year ago. Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti and Associate Minister Casey Costello, in her responsibility for Women’s Health, say it’s fantastic to have such ...5 days ago
- Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document sets ambitious direction
Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomes the Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document, which sets out how the Ministry will carry out its work and deliver on its purpose. “I have set up the Ministry for Regulation with three tasks. One, to cut existing red tape with sector reviews. Two, ...5 days ago
- Māori Education Advisory Group established
The Education Minister has established a Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group made up of experienced practitioners to help improve outcomes for Māori learners. “This group will provide independent advice on all matters related to Māori education in both English medium and Māori medium settings. It will focus on the most impactful ways we can lift ...5 days ago
- Government welcomes findings of NZ Superannuation Fund review
The Government has welcomed the findings of the recent statutory review into the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis says. The 5-yearly review, conducted on behalf of Treasury and tabled in Parliament today, found the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation ...5 days ago
- First of five new Hercules aircraft takes flight
Defence Minister Judith Collins today welcomed the first of five new C-130J-30 Hercules to arrive in New Zealand at a ceremony at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base Auckland, Whenuapai. “This is an historic day for our New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and our nation. The new Hercules fleet ...5 days ago
- Have your say on suicide prevention
Today, September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, a time to reflect on New Zealand’s confronting suicide statistics, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “Every death by suicide is a tragedy – a tragedy that affects far too many of our families and communities in New Zealand. We must do ...5 days ago
- Action to grow the rural health workforce
Scholarships awarded to 27 health care students is another positive step forward to boost the future rural health workforce, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “All New Zealanders deserve timely access to quality health care and this Government is committed to improving health outcomes, particularly for the one in five ...6 days ago
- Pharmac delivering more for Kiwis following major funding boost
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...6 days ago
- Sport Minister congratulates NZ’s Paralympians
Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand's Paralympic Team at the conclusion of the Paralympic Games in Paris. “The NZ Paralympic Team's success in Paris included fantastic performances, personal best times, New Zealand records and Oceania records all being smashed - and of course, many Kiwis on ...6 days ago
- Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations
A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report. “It will have the mandate ...1 week ago
- Passport wait times back on-track
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...1 week ago
- New appointments to the FMA board
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...1 week ago
- District Court judges appointed
Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...1 week ago
- Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand
Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...1 week ago
- New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender
New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...1 week ago
- Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a new economic impact analysis report reinforces this government’s commitment to ‘stamp out’ any New Zealand foot and mouth disease incursion. “The new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease in New Zealand would have ...1 week ago
- Improving access to finance for Kiwis
5 September 2024 The Government is progressing further reforms to financial services to make it easier for Kiwis to access finance when they need it, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Financial services are foundational for economic success and are woven throughout our lives. Without access to finance our ...1 week ago
- Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia
As Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to a leader whose commitment to Kotahitanga will have a lasting impact on our country. “Kiingi Tuheitia was a humble leader who served his people with wisdom, mana and an unwavering ...1 week ago
- PM Luxon, Police Minister Mark Mitchell say Auckland assaults are dropping
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Police Minister Mark Mitchell have announced a 22 percent drop in assaults in the Auckland CBD in the past year. Follow our live coverage here. ...41 mins ago - Police Minister Mark Mitchell to speak to media
Police Minister Mark Mitchell will speak to media on Sunday afternoon at the Auckland Central Police Station. Follow our live coverage here. ...2 hours ago
- Australia can’t afford an AUKUS about-face: 5 things the critics are getting wrong
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Three years have passed since the United States, Australia and United Kingdom announced on September 15 2021 that they would enter into a security partnership called AUKUS. A major part of ...4 hours ago - Pope Francis – a message of peace and real change in Pacific political struggles
COMMENTARY: By Laurens Ikinia in Jakarta Pope Francis has completed his historic first visit to Southeast Asian and Pacific nations. The papal apostolic visit covered Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Timor-Leste. This visit is furst to the region after he was elected as the leader of the Catholic Church ...4 hours ago
- Aukus Pillar Two: Australia gets new quantum atomic clocks
Quantum technology is one of eight technologies the US, Australia and UK are sharing more of under the controversial defence pact. ...7 hours ago
- Columnist and political media expert John Bishop dies
He was father of National Party MP Chris Bishop, a former RNZ and TVNZ journalist and chairperson of the Taxpayers' Union. ...8 hours ago
- Transport minister pushed ahead with weaker tailpipe standards to meet car industry’s deadline
Environment officials tried to warn Cabinet the move risked blowing NZ's climate targets - but were told they were too late. ...9 hours ago
- The House: Leading in opposition and building an alternative government
One vestige of the pre-MMP era is the term 'leader of the opposition' - but why does the term still exist, and what does the leader do? ...10 hours ago
- RSF calls on UN to investigate Israeli attack killing photojournalist Issam Abdallah
Pacific Media Watch A month before the anniversary of the death of photojournalist Issam Abdallah — killed by an Israeli strike while reporting in southern Lebanon — Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and 10 organisations have sent a letter to the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including ...14 hours ago
- New Rail Deviations Needed To Improve Productivity
In light of the governments shopping list of roading projects, TRAC would like to draw attention to the governments total wilfully neglectful attitude to rail, climate change, pollution, road congestion and road safety. ...16 hours ago - Watchdog Report On Places Of Detention Highlights Ongoing Harm
The 2022/23 annual report by the National Preventive Mechanism on the Optional Protocol to the United Nation’s Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) has been tabled in Parliament (Friday, 3pm) ...16 hours ago
- Local MP Opposes Greenwoods Car Park Removal
ACT Leader and MP for Epsom David Seymour has written to Auckland Transport and the Albert Eden Local Board in opposition to removing car parks from the West Side of Manukau Rd at Greenwoods Corner. ...16 hours ago
- NRC Pleased To See RONS And RORS Funding Allocation
National Road Carriers Association (NRC) is pleased to see the Government’s announcements today allocating funding to Roads of National Significance (RONS) and Roads of Regional Significance (RORS). ...16 hours ago
- New Zealand Catholic Church Suppresses Abuse Report
Catholic Church leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand have refused to fully disclose an independent report on how they have handled abuse complaints. ...16 hours ago
- Donations Available To Support Community Waitangi Day Celebrations
The 2025 Waitangi Day Celebration Fund (the Fund) is open until Monday, 7 October. ...16 hours ago
- Clubs Facing Extinction Should Be Empowered To Do Good
Kiwis shouldn’t have to sacrifice their membership of a rowing club or bridge club just because a piece of legislation loaded on costs in a cost-of-living crisis. The people running these clubs are busy parents, grandparents, and hobbyists building ...16 hours ago
- Striking Social Service And Support Workers To Rally For Decent Wages
Union members are calling for a 5% increase for all members to keep up with the cost of living. This is their second strike in three weeks, after eight months of negotiations led to Visionwest offering meagre pay increases ranging from 0% to 2.6%. ...16 hours ago
- Shane Jones Called Out For Seabed Mining Misinformation
The minister for mining and burning, Shane Jones, is trying to take New Zealanders for fools with inflated claims and misinformation about seabed mining off the coast of Taranaki, says Greenpeace. ...16 hours ago
- NZ Needs A Safe Rates System To Protect Transport Drivers And Other Road Users
Lance Gush, FIRST Union organiser, emphasised the importance of a Safe Rates system in Aotearoa for both drivers and other road users. ...16 hours ago
- Submissions Open On Amendment Paper No 84 To The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment...
We have decided to extend the deadline for submissions on the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill to invite submissions on amendments proposed by the Minister for Economic Development, in Amendment Paper No 84. ...16 hours ago
- Fertiliser Pollution Set To Continue Under Ballance’s Call For More Fossil Gas
Greenpeace Aotearoa is denouncing Ballance Agri-nutrients’ call for more fossil gas production, maintaining that urea needs to be phased out altogether. ...17 hours ago
- Free Speech Union Submits In Opposition To Law Commission Consultation On Amendments To Human Rights...
The paper examines extending section 21 of the Human Rights Act prohibited grounds of discrimination to include people who are transgender, non-binary and with innate variations of sex characteristics. ...17 hours ago
- Taxpayer Victory: Health Research Council To Actually Research Health
Health research isn’t a game. Lives depend on medical advancements, and every cent spent on frivalous pet projects is money that can’t go towards improving outcomes for Kiwis. ...17 hours ago
- Government spend on emergency housing drops nearly a third in a month
The government is celebrating the decline, saying emergency housing is not safe for families to live long-term. ...17 hours ago
- Luxon office protesters say at least 15 Hector’s dolphins killed from fishing since he was PM
At least 15 Hector's dolphins have been killed from fishing activity since Christopher Luxon became Prime Minister almost a year ago, a protest group says. ...1 day ago
- The Secret Diary of .. Sheriff Seymour
MONDAYIt was a bright cold day in September, and the clocks were striking thirteen. A cold wind swept through the main street of Dodge. Rain was headed over the mountain range and would wash all the scum off the streets – but not if Sheriff Seymour, First Minister of Moral Conduct and ...1 day ago - It Ends With Us ends with drama
Is the feud between the co-stars of It Ends With Us a genuine clash of creative minds or simply a clever marketing strategy that’s spiralled out of control?The highly anticipated film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel hit cinemas last month and as soon as the cast stepped onto the ...1 day ago
- A gal’s first hoedown
Last Friday at 7pm, Auckland’s ‘first annual’ hoedown began at the Grey Lynn RSC. Gabi Lardies was there to attempt a line dance. My pink cowgirl hat waited patiently in the lounge all week, quietly anticipating Friday night from her perch atop the couch’s arm rest. When I saw her, ...1 day ago - The Weekend: When an email changes your life
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week (and 10 years) that was. A lot of big things have happened in my life thanks to my motto of “just do one thing”. As a teenager, I was perfectly content at the high school all my older sisters went to, but my mum ...1 day ago
- ‘My approach was just to scream quite a lot’: Antonia Prebble’s many TV births
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Good interview.
Have you considered submitting this to the Stuff reader’s section?
There’s things in here which the wider public need to know, imo. Things which our supposed journalists can’t be bothered covering now that Campbell and other investigative reporting has gone.
That the deportees have to pay for their flight plus those of two AUS border force cops, for instance.
The basic argument for the policy is that more kiwis are in oz than Aussies in nz.
This is easily countered, as proportionally the Aussies own most of our banking sector.
Key should standup and just indicate a policy review of banking ownership.
+1 Aerobubble JK could start with Westpac who handle most of the government’s banking I believe. Sadly he is unlikely to do anything about that or the plight of “Doug” and his fellows.
Thing is he only needs to indicate a shake out to see Aussie banks backing pro kiwi Australian politicians
Good effort trp, and chin up to the interviewee. Sucks.
Great work TRP. Frank and fresh.
How can you be sent to prison for two months and have a parole period of six months?
Or is that a typo and was meant to be two years?
Normally, the parole would be served in the community, but once he was marked for deportation, they transferred him to an immigration detention centre for the parole period. Or do you mean ‘why was it 6 months?’. If its the latter, I don’t know what the normal parole periods are in Oz. But note it was a two month sentence, so at the lower end of the scale.
Normally parole is a percentage of the prison term.
Ok, I’ll take your word for that. You may be more familiar with the intricacies of the Australian penal code than I, but I’m not going to speculate how 😉 However, those were the periods he told me and I can only assume he’s correct. I don’t see why it much matters.
To be honest, if he was on parole for 6 months, his prison term was more likely two years.
For example in Victoria
If a sentence of less than two years but not less than one year is imposed, the court may set a non-parole period.
The non-parole period must be at least six months less than the term of imprisonment and must be in respect of the aggregate sentence that the offender is liable to serve under all the sentences imposed.
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4517.0Explanatory+Notes12013
if it’s two years , it wasn’t a minor crime he got done for.
I wondered the same thing, but I skipped over it and kept reading as I thought maybe Doug just mashed together a short parole period plus detention awaiting deportation. It didn’t seem important enough to dwell on.
Maybe that’s what happened.
It’s just the crux of the interview is about how badly treated Doug has been, turfed out of his country because of a trivial two month prison sentence, which I agree is pretty rough, if that is indeed the case.
If it was actually a two year sentence that completely changes the picture.
Is that the crux BM? For you maybe.
For me this is the crux
Yeah just like the PM didn’t think the bit about not being able to appeal until you have paid back 3 airfares didnt seem important enough to dwell on… and that NZ won’t give legal aid for the deportees to challenge the decision in the Aussie Courts or that the deportees will have to travel to Australia to appear in Court for their Appeal or it will be thrown out.
S.501 (3A) (b) of their Migration Act 1958 requires their Immigration Minister to cancel a person’s visa if they are serving a prison sentence BM, no matter how long the sentence. I think that probably applied to Doug.
http://thestandard.org.nz/deportee/#comment-1103903
BM, I have got some clarification. His original sentence was longer and he appealed successfully that it was too long. Long story short, his prison time was cut, but his parole time was not. It came to 8 months in total, all eventually served in jail or detention centres.
If he hadn’t appealed the length of sentence, he might have actually spent less time inside overall and may, possibly, have not even been considered for deportation.
Yeah just like the PM didn’t think the bit about not being able to appeal until you have paid back 3 airfares didnt seem important enough to dwell on… and that NZ won’t give legal aid for the deportees to challenge the decision in the Aussie Courts or that the deportees will have to travel to Australia to appear in Court for their Appeal or it will be thrown out.
So far as I can tell, in Aussie, it depends on the non-parole period set by the court, and other early-release options.
In other words, I think BM’s premise is drivel.
Interesting that was the thing that most caught your eye as worthy of a response BM.
How could Key have forgotten the deportees have to pay for their and 2 cops airfares before being able to appeal was m first pressing question.
Yep. As soon as I saw BM has commented I knew it would be about the veracity of some small part of the Deportee’s claims, rather than the wider issue of the policy and human story.
That’s just how the Nats and their followers roll. Pick apart the detail while ignoring the issue.
#dirtypolitics
The right warn us about govt, yet never about their bad govt. Leaky homes.
Take rheumatic fever, govt deregulation leds to lower standards on health care, or work safety. Pike river mine.
Trust them, they know what they are doing, in doing less than nothing, I.e cutting govt.
the abuse of kiwis in Australia undermines free trade in services, individuals from nz find the costs of providing services in Australia higher than those of residents. if they have to become residents then why have free borders! Worse the argument for the policy, that there are more kiwis in oz than ozzies in nz is a rotten one, since there are many more Aussie banks here.
How quickly would they turn round if Key stood up to them and used the very same argument to reduce Aussie banking ownership to ‘fair’ proportional levels.
Great work TRP.
“First they have to pay back the Australian Federal Government the cost of the flight home.
Not just their flight, but return fares for the two cops who accompany each deportee on the plane. The best part of three grand before they can even get started. That minor detail must have gone down Key’s memory hole.
And the appeal process is deemed to have started when he was first moved to an immigration detention centre.”
How long do they have to appeal? I note you wrote that he has lost 2 months already but what is the end date?
I can try and follow up, but my understanding is that a likely deportation date is set for the day of release from jail. ie once the sentence is finished, you’re shipped out. If you appeal, then it appears the clock restarts from the day you arrive in the Immigration detention centre. Reading between the lines, I think Doug initially thought he could start the appeal process in jail and finish it while he was out on parole and getting on with his life.
I got that too (your reading between the lines comment) and will try and see if there is a finite end point once the appeal clock starts running. Should be easy to find, though, what with the government being all transparent about this. 😉
Australia is a country beset with bureaucracy … especially when it comes to immigration and welfare … I have just returned from 5 weeks there and my son-in-law tried to contact Centre Link (their WINZ) regarding an overpayment on two successive days. He waited on hold for over 3 hours each day. without any reply. As for an application for permanent residency the advice is – forget it -the cost is exorbitant and if one item is incorrect or omitted (and its not clear even for intelligent people with a Masters with first class Hons) sometimes just what is required – then you go to the bottom of the pile and have to reapply and pay the cost again.
Great Interview TRP. This really does deserve a wider audience.
The true cost of the work of the Insane Dutton needs to be revealed to all Australians. He needs to go. He is bringing Australia into huge disrepute internationally for his extreme and inhumane policies.
It is ironic that a country founded by deportees should resort to these measures, it never ceases to amaze me. One would have thought that they might contemplate first how their forebears felt about being transported from their country of origin.
I agree with others here TRP. This is a superb interview mate. Very insightful. Really well-written and easy to read. Illustrates perfectly the unfairness & inhumanity of this law change in Australia, and gives a reality check to those who think everyone deported back to NZ is some kind of evil, thuggish life-long criminal who deserves it.
I hope you’re able to get this interview widely published. It’s a great human interest story & the subject’s topical. I’d hope it would be of interest to media here and in Oz/overseas if you could get into Stuff & The Herald.
Does he want to be here?
Does he fuck.
Maybe change that last bit to “no way” or something 🙂
The nice thing about blogging is being able to get a bit sweary from time to time, Grindlebottom! And having heard Doug’s story, I think that one line is a pretty restrained response. ANZAC spirit my hairy arse! (whoops, there I go again).
I’d like to see that interview in a mainstream paper is all TRP. Does he fuck is great for blogs! Ah what the heck, you’re right. An editor could just go does he f*** if they wanted to.
Don’t apologise – that’s EXACTLY what it’s become. It amuses me how great emphasis is put on things (by apologist politicians) like express lanes for Kiwis at airports and certain preferential treatment we get.
I recall not THAT long ago (40 yrs – half a lifetime) when passports were not needed to travel Trans-Tasman, when Australian States searched your boot for fruit at the State Border (inter-state), and when for some bizarre reason I was given an Australian passport.
Subsequently things have got worse incrementally – beginning with LITTLE Johnny Howard.
ANNZAC spirit be fooked. It’s something that’s trotted out once or twice a year, but under current regimes on both sides of the Tasman is utterly meaningless.
ANZAC has been bastardised by the right govts of Oz and NZ to justify their militaristic support of the USA., their increased spying on citizens they object to, and the reduced transparency of their decision-making
“”If you are fighting a deportation case in Australia, you need access to your legal team, you need access to the court, you need to be able to attend court.
“And furthermore litigation is stressful, it’s important to have the support of family and others around you at that time,” he said.
“To say to people that they ought to return to the country that they come from and then seek to fight some sort of international legal battle is just ridiculous.
“I’ve never heard it being suggested in relation to any other deportation case and it beggars belief that political leaders would think this was something that could be done.” Greg Barns, from the Australian Lawyers’ Alliance,
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/287552/deportation-appeals-from-nz-'absurd‘
In the same article John Key was reported as saying
“Prime Minister John Key said there was no ulterior motive.
“It’s definitely not a trick,” he said. “They’ve altered the policy to allow them to come home and [Mr Turnbull’s] basic argument is, look, come back to New Zealand, put in your application or your application will be in, the minister will look at [it] in good faith.
“It’ll be irrelevant of whether you’re in a detention centre or in New Zealand, it’ll be processed the same.”
Amy Adams has said there is NO legal aid for those deportees who return to fight their appeals.
That “good faith” bit must have been a bit of word vomit that escaped from his mouth.
It’s SO hard to know who to beieve;
The NZ PM who has no influence on Australia; or
The Lawyerr from Australia .
It’s nice to hear the NZ police and corrections staff treated the deportees well, and it really is heartening that his relatives are helping out. This is an extraordinary situation.
For anyone who missed it, Story on TV3 aired a rather poignant interview last week with Peina Clarke, a deportee in a motel in Te Atatu: http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/story/kiwi-convicts-a-perfect-recipe-for-re-offence-2015112319#axzz3t3y4hzfh
“It’s nice to hear the NZ police and corrections staff treated the deportees well, and it really is heartening that his relatives are helping out. This is an extraordinary situation.”
Hear hear!
Thank you. Brilliant and sensitive interview and hopefully it can be circulated widely. Wonder why the PM omitted to mention the cost factor in appealing from NZ. He made it sound as if it was as easy as posting a letter.
Section 501 Migration Act
You can read it here
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ma1958118/s501.html
Note “substantial criminal record” is defined as
“Substantial criminal record
(7) For the purposes of the character test, a person has a substantial criminal record if:
(a) the person has been sentenced to death; or
(b) the person has been sentenced to imprisonment for life; or
(c) the person has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more; or
(d) the person has been sentenced to 2 or more terms of imprisonment, where the total of those terms is 12 months or more; or
(e) the person has been acquitted of an offence on the grounds of unsoundness of mind or insanity, and as a result the person has been detained in a facility or institution; or
(f) the person has:
(i) been found by a court to not be fit to plead, in relation to an offence; and
(ii) the court has nonetheless found that on the evidence available the person committed the offence; and
(iii) as a result, the person has been detained in a facility or institution.”
The bit that caught my eye tracey was this:
3A) The Minister must cancel a visa that has been granted to a person if:
…(b) the person is serving a sentence of imprisonment, on a full-time basis in a custodial institution, for an offence against a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.
It seems like this might’ve been Doug’s undoing.
and the removal of Natural Justice as a component of the Minister’s decision-making…
Yeah I saw that too, tracey. So fairness is actually legislated out of the process. Incredible just how fascistic this law change is.
Exactly. That’s the thrust of my numerous comments on this issue for some time now.
While we could tolerate, albeit unhappily, the 2001 changes that Howard forced on us, it is the more recent rules – rammed through the Federal Parliament under the pretext of fighting terrorism by Abbott early this year – which are truly noxious.
1. The new rules are retrospective
2. Detention is mandatory
2. It can be indefinite
3. Only the Minister (or delegated officials) may consider an appeal on administrative grounds only
4.There is NO legal appeal
I’ve spoken to a couple of other kiwis in the past week – both of them expressing considerable unease at their legal status here in Australia. It’s not a joke.
Basically this is bad law, constructed by evil, bigoted politicians and incompetent lawmakers. Sadly it is a reflection of their society as it seems these draconian laws are widely supported by most ‘law-abiding’ Australians, excluding of course their indigenous population who are also treated like animals, with few rights. http://bit.ly/badauzzies
WOW this is evil. Thankyou for sharing such a harrowing story with us Doug and TRP.
I had no real idea how bad this situation was until this enlightening interview, showing ‘back to the future botany bay’ between Australia and New Zealand rather than Britain and Australia.
Try and stay strong Doug. I have no family here either, but as you have found, thank God, many Kiwis are very kind and very strong and you have that in you because you are one of us from birth. Bless you.
Dutton obviously hasn’t learned the lesson ‘do as you would be done by’ with regard to his ancestors who could well have been cruelly and unjustly deported from Britain.
I might be misunderstand, TRP, but the “Appeal” is really a Judicial Review??? expensive stuff usually.
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/background-paper-human-rights-issues-raised-visa-refusal-or-cancellation-under-sectio-4
From reading a little bit, it seems Appeals will be a waste of time and money. Better to agitate for a change of Governemnt, which makes Little’s trip over there of some note IF the Aussie LP is convinced it is wrong to do this. Cos the new Minister of immigration under a Labour Government will have as wide a discretion to issue visas as the current one has to remove them?
Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), Schedule 5, clause 5001(c). The effect of that clause is that a person who has been removed from Australia following cancellation of their visa because of a substantial criminal record, past or present criminal conduct, or a combination of past or present criminal and general conduct will not be eligible to be granted any visa to which criteria 5001 applies.
Yes, it could be a judicial review. We both used the term appeal when we were talking and I didn’t go into the detail. Didn’t really have time. I also didn’t ask much about his offences, either. I didn’t think it was particularly relevant to the post, and I gather it was some typically adolescent stuff.
He certainly seemed to have got his life on track before making one last mistake. Self employed, paying his taxes, providing work for others, clean and sober. He looks and sounds like your average dinkum Aussie, really.
So. Does he fuck?
If you need advice infused there are all sorts of web sites for that.
Excellent interview trp!
Can’t you read? He’s been fucked. That’s the problem.
I thought it was quite a good typo.
I fused he has been fucked by, amongst others, our PM who either colluded with Aussie to keep the truth of the conitions attached to appealing if returning to NZ. Or forgot to mention it. Both might be required of a currency trader but neither is a virtue in a PM
It has nothing to do with our PM Tracey.
Only if he is an impotent leader infused. How is choosing not to tell NZERS, amongst all the things he has said on this, that appealing will not be as easy here as there, nothing to do with our PM. He knew that anyone coming home had to jump a big financial hurdle before they could appeal thatt they wouldnt face in Australia?
3 choices infused
John Key is
1. An impotent leader.
2. A deceptive leader
3. A mere dupe
Tracey many people here bagged Key for claiming there were rapists amongst the NZ’ers returning home, when they claimed there weren’t. As recent events have shown there was at least one returning NZ’er arrested on arrival for historic sexual assault charges. Key was right. You were all wrong.
[lprent: Rape is a type of sexual assault yes. However all sexual assaults aren’t rapes. It appears this is a moron level mistake that you share with John Key.
Would you care to retract that idiotic assertion or to offer some linked proof that the single instance was a rape or would you like me to simply ban you for smearing “many people” because you are too stupid to read newspaper reports accurately. I’ve added your to auto-spam while I await your answer.
Please note that as soon as you start making general assertions about the site, you immediately become of interest to the sysop of the site. I have no sense of humor about it. ]
Key was wrong, He claimed that in the group there were rapists and murderers. There weren’t. That’s a proven fact, as far as I know. The guy arrested this week is currently innocent until proven guilty, and may not even have been among those at Christmas Island anyway. Doug wasn’t, for example. In a nutshell, Key was wrong in his claim. That’ll never change, no matter how much you froth about it.
And the moral of the story is don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
How about a bit more detail regarding why he was jailed and previous criminal history? At least then a reader can make up their own mind if ‘Doug’ has been harshly treated based on Australian Law or whether he outstayed his welcome by breaking the law.
And no I don’t give a shit about the Australian process (or the way criminals or ex criminals are treated) as that is the law of the country. Perhaps if there was a bit more respect for the law Doug wouldn’t be in the predicament he is in.
Tory, Doug is effectively an Australian. He grew up there and knows no other culture. He was schooled in Oz, paid his tax in Oz and committed his crimes (whatever they were) in Oz. Barring the fact that he was born in NZ, he is entirely a product of Australia.
The crux of the matter is that any Kiwi born Aussie can get caught up like this. Even ones like Doug who are the person they are because of Australia. Nature versus nurture. Australia made him the man he is, but a quirk of DNA means he’s going to be dumped here. We get to pay for Australia’s mistakes. Where’s the Taxpayer’s Union when you need them?
What do you care about the law: you can’t even respect basic human rights. Poxy hypocrite.
Welcome to our brave new world, Jesus this is disgusting what is going on. Key needs to grow some cajones and get stuck into the Australian Government over this. Dutton is evil and as bad as Key is. Unbelievable that this can be happening between our two countries – ANZACS I think not, such a travesty to even suggest their is friendship between the two countries. The sooner we break ties with them the better.
I appreciate the TRP conducted the interview with respect and good intentions but I’m sorry but the guys hard luck story has more holes than a cheese grater.
You will, of course, point them all out to us….
1, 2, 3, …. counting
Come on.. what are all those holes that are so obvious to you but no one else?
This interview made me cry – for the hopeless feeling that ‘Doug’ must be experiencing. He is very generous in his recount about the NZ Police and Corrections, about how he’s been treated here – it is good to know that he has had some compassion/empathy shown to him.
We don’t know his ‘crime’ – are we ‘allowed’ to know or is it confidential? You would think that Austr. govt would look at each case individually and deal with it case-by-case (as in based on severity). He owned a business, he employed people, he has family, he has admitted he has been ‘off the rails’ when he was younger but he now has cleaned up his life and is living a new life (how did he end up in jail if that be the case?)
If his crime was ‘minor’ then surely it would be better for the employment situation in Austr. if people like ‘Doug’ were permitted back to their community to carry on running their business … those few people he employed would’ve had families/lives – so by what the Austr. Govt has done to Doug, they have also done to the people he employed.
It astounds me that a) Doug doesn’t have citizenship and if he does, how is it that he needs to sort out ‘visas’? It is also astounding that the Australian Govt can do this to people who have lived their entire lives in that country – ie: Doug didn’t emigrate to Australia out of choice, his parents took him when he was a small child. It is therefore reasonable to say that Australia is Doug’s ‘homeland’ – So: If the PM of Australia was born in Africa but was taken to Australia by his parents at 5yr old and he committed a crime (any crime) and served jail time; would the Australian Govt then send him back to Africa? After he had lived in Australia for 40years? If so, that is a moronic law!
Also; for ‘arguments sake’ what makes the Austr. govt think that NZ (or any birth country) wants someone back if they *have committed a serious crime! If the person is raised, has lived in Australia for more than half their life and is considered ‘Australian’ by all other purposes, if they’ve paid their taxes there etc… then why send them to the country of their birth?
Obviously all my questions are rhetorical and have been asked probably, by thousands of people – but it seems to be a most illogical and irresponsible law, not to mention inhumane.
I feel very sad for Doug, he has paid his dues, he is lost and alone. Thank goodness for his relatives taking him in. Is there some way that the people of NZ (those who want to) to maybe support Doug in his needs for legal help? Can we start some kind of fund to help the people who need this help who are coming back from Australia? Those who’ve been mistreated and who really deserve the help?
It is very forgiving, very humble of Doug to suggest that there is ”nothing that can be done” by New Zealand – but why is there nothing? Why did John Key say that something could be done if they came here yet now one of them is here, he tells us that nothing can be done? WHY has JK NOT done anything to help these people with Legal help! THAT at least would have been better than nothing at all!!!!
Sorry – I feel saddened by this story and I always feel that there is never nothing that can be done – there must be a way to help these people and help reunite them with their families.
Andrea said “It astounds me that a) Doug doesn’t have citizenship”
Me too. None of this would have happened if he’d simply claimed the Australian citizenship he was entitled to.
Tell that to the hundreds of thousands of Kiwis who also haven’t bothered applying for citizenship. For decades, we’ve never had to bother. But thanks to this law change, our ‘special relationship’ with Australia has been cut off at the knees.
There is also the possibility the he, and many more Kiwi born Aussies, would not be granted citizenship. It’s not automatic, any more than it is here. It’s an application, not an entitlement and Australia has tightened up on the ‘good character’ provisions. It’s not a given.
Your first paragraph sums it up exactly.
NZers often haven’t applied for Australian citizenship because we supposedly had ‘a special relationship’ (no doubt based on that mythical ANZAC spirit ‘brand’).
The ‘special relationship’ was curtailed with fook all fanfare such that many/most were not even aware the changes were being made.
Still, those that find democracy too inconvenient at times and those that find natural justice and being principled foreign often love to put the boot in (preferably by stealth if possible).
We should at least have the sense to reciprocate – in a number of ways.
(E.G student loans; property purchases; etc – though not as far as denying benefits in hard times – perhaps we could give an airfare home instead, minus the handcuffs).
Ekshully, Australians hate their banks as much as we do – perhaps there’s an opportunity for Kiwibank – or the CoOp bank
Thanks, Andrea. I chose not to go into Doug’s history because I think it’s irrelevant. It’s the situation he finds himself in that is the important thing. I didn’t want to make moral judgements about him, but I sure as hell do want to make moral judgements about the governments both sides of the Tasman.
This is a fundamentally stupid situation. Australia is entirely responsible for how people like Doug turned out. Doug is entirely a product of his Australian upbringing, but we Kiwis have to foot the bill and take the risk. I’m optimistic that Doug will make a go of it, but he was already making a go of it in Oz. This situation sucks.
Isn’t Doug’s predicament also a product made entirely of his own choices in life? And his history is relevant, if he has committed minor victimless crimes (would he have wound up in jail for those?) it’s a lot different than if he was someone who preyed on Australian citizens and/or committed domestic violence.
I do appreciate the point about us, the tax payer being the real loser in this, as we have had no control or input into it and now we are being lumped with thousands of ‘Australian’ criminals….
Nah, I maintain his crimes aren’t relevant. He’s definitely done some stuff, but it wouldn’t matter if they were victimless crimes or not. Let’s say it was growing dope and selling it to his mates. He’d still be facing deportation if he was imprisoned. The taxpayer thing is a bit of a side issue, as I’m more concerned about the human cost, but it does seem ridiculous that we are being left to carry the can for what are Australian issues.
I’ve posted the criteria above. Read it. You will see that combined sentences from different offences, of 12 months added together satusfieds the criteria.
You and others here are latching on to a read herring.
“It’s the situation he finds himself in that is the important thing. ”
The situation he’s in is the product of his history, which is of his own making. The fact that you want to judge governments but not the individual responsible is just silly leftie hand wringing.
I agree he is a product of his history. It’s an Australian history, so why are we paying for Australia’s problems?
I don’t see why Doug is so worried, now that Andrew Little and Phil Goff have stepped in everything will be sorted out Real Soon Now.
Well it obvious that his sentence wasn’t 2 months due to 6 mths parole period.
It’s also obvious that a 2 yr sentence wouldn’t be commuted to 2 mths so that rules out an appeal.
I’d point out that the whine about losing his business seems odd. The business failed due to his deportation arrangements but survived when he was serving his original lag?
His offences were “typical adolescent stuff” 2 years max for boys will be boys stuff.?Yeah right.
Has “nobody” in NZ to turn to but is placed with relatives in NZ?
He was advised about possible deportation but did what? That right nothing until now
I’m happy to continue Macro but judging by your response I’d place you in the determined to give blowjobs to criminals as long as you can make a hit on JK camp’ so I think my time would be wasted.
I could see such a business surviving 2 months but not another six. Not hard to imagine.
His custodial sentence was two months. I covered this in the reply to BM above. No idea what you think your second point means. It’s gibberish.
Your third point is ridiculous. He wasn’t whining about the loss of his business, he’s accepting of the fact that he got himself into the mess. But he had a chance of saving it if he wasn’t forced to serve his parole inside.
The adolescent stuff was his exactly that, the stuff he did as a youth. Did you read the post?
He has never previously met the relatives who have taken him in. They are literally strangers to him. If it wasn’t for their amazing support, he’d be on his own. They’ve clearly got more humanity than you, bud.
Yes, he did nothing about the possibility of deportation because he didn’t take it seriously. So he was young and naive. That happens. He just did not think it would happen to him. Big mistake, obviously.
If you have any genuine points to make, feel free to put them up.
If you mean by the last remark that I have a modicum of empathy, which is obviously a quality completely lacking in your case, then I stand accused. I will admit to having worked as a Probation Officer for a time some years back, and am familiar with the rules regarding parole which (from your first remark) you obviously aren’t.
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Top work, TRP. Thank you. Your post shines a light which exposes just how dark National Ltd™’s promise of a “brighter future” for all New Zealanders really is.
Last I heard today, in Question Time, yet again, Bill English going on about the “net immigration gain” from Australia, I wonder whether he meant this, the deportees, being a significant number of them.
Australia changed its laws, made it draconian, inhumane, and now they all are forced to come back, who for whatever reasons failed to “realise” their “Aussie Dream”, all ejected and rejected, as “riff raff” and unwanted persons.
And all that the government did was to first ignore the challenge, and then come with a law change to enable them to “monitor” the “problem”!
I am sorry, dear NZers, this is YOUR PROBLEM, they are NZ citizens, residents, born and bred here, they may have gone wrong in Australia, they are STILL Kiwis, and chose to be that. So where is the NZers solidarity to their own?
Also, so what “welfare” is being offered, besides of “monitoring”? Maybe the MSD and WINZ will create a new “task force” to off-load these “socially undesirables” into work, whatever work there is, as they have tried with endless Kiwis living here, they will be “fit for work”, I presume to will have to jump through endless hoops to get any payments from WINZ for a start.
Prepare for this, dear folks, it has been going of for a while, MSD have only taken a more precautionary approach due to much of what we presented, as warnings, re what went on in the UK, but they cannot be trusted, not at all, they will try again to bend the rules:
http://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/medical-and-work-capability-assessments-based-on-the-controversial-bio-psycho-social-model/
http://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2013/12/28/designated-doctors-used-by-work-and-income-some-also-used-by-acc-the-truth-about-them/
NZers have largely lost any sense of solidarity and sympathy, I see many just look after number one here in Auckland, and it is sad, disappointing, and it is nasty at times. So where do you stand, dear TS commenters? I think this society has long ago lost its values and spirit, the nasty labeling of these people, some of whom only committed minor traffic offences, shows how nasty this country’s populace has become.
The trouble is you are expecting New Zealanders to have solidarity with people who have openly stated they don’t want to be in New Zealand and would rather be in another country. You want us to stand up for the right of New Zealanders to live in another country. That is truly bizarre.
Yes it is. And what is even bizarre is that Labour, who are trying to gain popular support, also expected this.
Divide and rule, you are the best example for this policy approach that this government we have takes, and sadly the majority supporting this have settled with suffering Stockholm Syndrome.
It’s an issue of standing up for the right of people to be treated fairly. At the most basic level, it’s simply not fair for someone who’s spent most of their life living in another country, and has their roots and family there, to be thrown out. And especially so when any offences committed have been trivial & they’ve finished the sentence or paid the penalty imposed at the time.
A large number are born here – but not breed here. Growing up in Australia, they are, for all intensive purposes, Australians! Note – it’s not just NZ’ers being deported – they exported a 56 yo English born resident who came to Australia when he was 1! His crime – self medicating drugs! Dutton, the Australian minister of immigration is an evil psychopathic dolt – acknowledged as such by any Australian with half a brain – but that rules out most of the LNP party, so he’s a cabinet minister!
its almost funny that society if we may generalize a little looks down its noble nose at so called criminals in and of its jails but is in awe of some slimey lieing potentially totally corrupt polititian just because he is wearing a suit . All the while bankers defraud the world of billions turning the vast majority of simple workers into slaves for the term of their natrual lives .goes without saying practicly that whatever the pricks mentioned above get away with ;corporations wielding global reach and power will finally exterminate us all !!He or she who imagines that deporting a tiny amount of petty crims is gonna make any world a better place is severely deluded i.m.o.
Not to mention the people in suits committing fraud which never reaches ciminal courts because the company doesn’t want to give the impression it has bad security… thoe folks walk among us.
Look at the ACT party about 17% of all the MP’s it has ever had in Parliament have criminal convictions. Even one who stood in Tamaki but didn’t get elected got one this year (Swney).
NO outriage from the Right wingers though…
Weston, you epitomise the twisted left that blame all on JK rather than taking on a bit of personal responsibility. All I hear is “poor Doug” rather than he is bearing the fruit from actions that no doubt affected innocent people going about their lawful business. Of course we will never know if Doug is getting a raw deal as Doug appears happy to play the sympathy vote but at the same time won’t expose his criminal history.
Tory, you egg, it was my decision not to ask how Doug got into this situation. His convictions aren’t the point and I’m sure he’d have told me if I’d asked. The post is about the disproportionate damage being done to people who are in his position. His child, who also has a Kiwi heritage, is likely to grow up without knowing his father. What’s the kid done? Has he failed to take personal responsibility, too? Doug is not looking for sympathy. He’s a grown up and takes full responsibility for his mistakes. I suspect he’s far more mature about getting things wrong than you. But go on, surprise me. Tell me that the penny has dropped and you now understand the point of the post.
And speaking of personal responsibility, why isn’t Australia taking personal responsibility? Why does the NZ taxpayer have to pay for mistakes made across the ditch?
The person interviewed was quite clear about the crimes committed, their penalty, the parole, the difference between parole and detention, and the desire to work hard and make a new life. You are wrong there.
I’d love to see Treasury step in and help this person rebuild their lives like they did South Canterbury Finance. But we won’t.
I’d love to see Key do his job as Prime Minister and protecting our own citizens, like MFAT do for citizen tourists around the world who get into trouble. But we aren’t.
It would be fantastic to see an actually effective New Zealand penal system that could confidently take them all on here, if they have further sentences to serve. But we don’t. Key now presides over a privatized penal system that is such a disaster his Minister hasn’t fronted to the media for months.
If the taxes you and I pay the government to help such destitute people out don’t work, it’s time to vote the people in charge out.
Instead, actual ordinary Kiwis are picking up the pieces, and will make it work despite this government. As they have been for 7 years now. It’s not about personal responsibility, you heartless asshhole, it’s about family responsibility and community responsibility. It’s that thing National degrades and destroys; actual functioning society.
Great post TRP & awesome reply Ad, thanks.
The other critical point that Tory and his ilk refuse to notice – the new rules that deported Doug are fucking retrospective in their application.
Doesn’t matter if you did a couple of short sentences 20 years ago. Bam … the rules demand your indefinite detention and probably deportation.
Kind of hard to take personal responsibility for a law that’s going to be passed decades in the future eh?
Beautifully put. 🙂
They would have to have read the whole post and responses, understood some facts about the issue and taken on board more than just the filtered version that suits their comfy and self righteous world view. I wonder how many of them voted for ACT when David Garrett was a proposed LIst MP?
Perhaps Tory means that they should have anticipated that a right-wing government would bring in a draconian law that violates Inernational Human Rights and a right wing NZ government would quietly agree and so do nothing?
I fail to see why the attack on Tory as he is only viewing his opinion. The attack on National and Key is also a bit of a joke as “Doug” himself has said that Key nor the government can do a thing about what is happening. The bottom line no matter how you look at it, is that these people have committed a crime and are paying for it. Now it could be that they are being “sentenced” twice, but that is unfortunately the law now in existence in Australia. Little and Goff went over to have their say and what has changed? Thankfully these people can come back to New Zealand and start a new life. I know of many immigrants that have no one to support them in New Zealand, so this lot needs to accept that it is overall their own wrong doing and if they are serious about changing their lives around, get on with life.
It’s because Tory starts with an attack – “twisted” – and then employs right wing lies about “personal responsibility” – of which he demonstrates zero.
I note you and Tory pay lip service to the rule of law while defending human rights abuses. You, and all others like you, belong in the dock at The Hague.
“You, and all others like you, belong in the dock at The Hague.”
For expressing an opinion on a blog – Isn’t that a thought crime?
I’m pretty sure that is not a good idea. Rather suspect that you support it though.
No, Gosman, inciting violence is not a thought crime.
He is being challenged because his opinion fails to take account of an important fact. He claims people knew what would happen, and yet the law is being applied retrospectively, which means the opposite of people knew what would happen.
actualy tory i wasnt thinking of jk in my comment tho it amuses me that you thought so because of my description ! .I was thinking more of the latest breed of ausie pollies whos brains seemed to have turned to mush forget about their hearts they obviously attrophied years ago .
I remain staunchly of the view Australia’s S.501 amendment is unfair and am opposed to it, but this story is interesting. I remember the “human crime wave” media fuss before she arrived. Her case would be the exception rather than the norm, I’m sure, but nevertheless one hopes others will give our deportees who’re unsuccessful in their appeals and unable to return to Australia a chance, as they were prepared to for Patricia.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/74688241/human-crime-wave-patricia-toia-australia-did-me-a-favour-by-deporting-me
Thanks, Grindlebottom, that’s an interesting counterpoint. I’m glad she’s turned her life around. Not sure that every deportee will have the same outcome though.