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A Maori activist has been convicted of selling worthless "Government of Aotearoa" work permits to two Thai nationals.
In a reserved judgment in the Auckland District Court, Judge Lindsay Moore dismissed the documents as "not worth the paper they were written on".
Sitting without a jury, Judge Moore found 53-year-old immigration consultant John Hikuwai, of Wainui Bay in Northland, guilty of charging Thaen Charoephan and Nongnuch Ruengsakul $500 each for the false permits.
Hikuwai was also found guilty of three breaches of the immigration legislation by falsely declaring that the applicants understood the contents of a claim for refugee status before signing the documents.
"There can be no question but that the basis for each claim did not come from the respective applicants, but was a dishonest and indeed abusive exercise dreamed up by Mr Hikuwai and his associates who used it over and over again," Judge Moore said.
A date is yet to be set for Hikuwai's sentencing.
In his written judgment, Judge Moore said the Thai couple, who are in their mid-40s, came to New Zealand in 1999.
They had divorced and the woman married her sister's former de facto husband, who was living legally in New Zealand.
Immigration authorities rejected her application for permanent residence.
Judge Moore said Ms Ruengsakul and Mr Charoephan then sought other ways to remain in New Zealand. They became associated with the Wat Thai Temple in Avondale, where they met Hikuwai.
The judge said Hikuwai and his colleagues persuaded the couple that their immigration situation would be enhanced by obtaining Government of Aotearoa work permits at a cost of $500 each.
- NZPA
