'Government of Aotearoa' work permit scam alleged

A controversial Maori activist has been accused of selling work permits issued by the "Government of Aotearoa" to Thai nationals.

John Hikuwai, 50, of Wainui Bay, Northland, appeared before Judge Patrick Mahoney in the Auckland District Court this week on two charges of false pretences and six under immigration legislation.

Hikuwai, who has pleaded not guilty, came to prominence in the late 1990s when he flouted fishing regulations under the flag of the Confederation of Chiefs of the United Tribes of Aotearoa.

The work permit and immigration charges brought by the Department of Labour date back to 2002.

Hikuwai, described as an immigration consultant, is accused of obtaining $500 by false pretences from each of two Thais for work permits issued by the Government of Aotearoa. He is also charged with breaches of the immigration legislation, including submitting refugee application forms that were allegedly altered after being signed by the Thai applicants.

All charges carry a maximum seven years' imprisonment, and in addition the immigration charges can carry a maximum $100,000 fine.

A hearing date will be set next month.

The Department of Labour said the two complainants arrived from Thailand with their two young children in 1999. Early in 2002 they and about 30 other Thai nationals visited Hikuwai near Waitangi.

According to the prosecution summary: "The defendant told the assembled group that Queen Elizabeth had given Maoris (sic) the power to make decisions and issue various licences.

"Additionally, he told the assembled group that to help their respective immigration cases, the Maori people would first have to adopt them and their children and give them 'Temporary Custody Order' issued by the Maori Government."

It is alleged that in return for the four temporary custody orders, the complainants, Thaen Charoenphan and Nongnuch Ruengsakul, paid a total of $4000 to a third person and collected the orders from Hikuwai soon after.

The department's summary alleges that Hikuwai contacted the complainants again and invited them to a meeting with other Thai nationals.

"At this meeting a third person told the group that the Maori government had the power to issue work permits for $500 to allow each of them to work in New Zealand legally," the summary said.

The couple were said to have paid $400 to a third person at the meeting, and a week later allegedly paid Hikuwai the remaining $600. In return they received two "Government of Aotearoa work permits". They believed they were genuine.

Outside court Hikuwai's lawyer, Lester Cordwell, said: "There are some real cultural issues here that need to be explored."

Language

* A Thai interpreter will be required for the trial as both complainants are from Thailand.

* Accused John Hikuwai has requested a Maori interpreter.

* If everything is to be translated into Maori, questions asked in English of the Thai nationals will have to be translated into both Thai and Maori.

* Answers in Thai will have to be translated into English and then into Maori.