An Australian man with no criminal convictions was held in a New Zealand jail cell without charge for 12 hours after being refused entry to the country because he is a member of the Rebels motorcycle club.
John Millar arrived at Christchurch airport on December 2 where he was handed over to police by immigration officials after customs found a Rebels club vest in his luggage.
Millar, 34, who intended to join a motorcycle ride with the Christchurch chapter of the Rebels, was transferred to a watch house before being put on a flight back to Brisbane the next day.
Immigration NZ told him yesterday that his membership of the club led him to being refused entry under section 16 of the Immigration Act, the Guardian reports.
That allows authorities to turn back anyone believed to be likely to commit an offence drawing jail time or pose a threat or risk to security, public order or the public interest.