Bogus jobs open door says Peters

By FRANCESCA MOLD and ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters claims some immigrants are buying bogus job offers at a cost of $10,000 to increase their chances of being accepted into New Zealand.

In a speech yesterday, Mr Peters said the claim was made in a letter to him from a man who moved to New Zealand 10 years ago.

The man asked Mr Peters not to identify him because he lives in a community of immigrants.

Mr Peters said he was not prepared to put the man through the "media mangle" but his staff had checked him out and believed the letter was genuine.

Immigrants need to score a certain number of points to be accepted as New Zealand residents. They can win up to five points by having an offer of a job in New Zealand. If the job is not relevant to their qualifications and experience, they will be awarded only two points.

Mr Peters said the allegation should "send alarm bells ringing to the very top".

"If this is a well-known racket among immigrants, why isn't the Immigration Service doing something about it?"

Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel said rumours of people trying to buy job offers had been circulating for some time.

She said if Mr Peters had evidence of such a scam he should "put up or shut up" and give her office the information so action could be taken.

She said it was an offence for a person to apply for residence citing a fake job offer. "We will take action but we need evidence to act on."

Ms Dalziel said she had the power to revoke the residence of any immigrant who had provided false information in their application.

Mr Peters said he would call for a full inquiry into immigration after the election. The inquiry should look at what sort of immigration policies New Zealand should adopt.

Meanwhile, election fever is proving contagious in Tauranga, which has an epidemic of political hoardings. And that's not just because it is Mr Peters' stronghold.

Running parallel to the general election is the Tauranga District Council's first byelection since the local authority was formed in 1989.

The poll, in the central Te Papa ward, is to fill a vacancy left by the death of councillor Jean White.

There are 12 contenders, most of them with previous campaign experience and an urge to promote their worth.

Ballot papers went out a week ago to the ward's 13,500 eligible voters and the postal vote's closing date is July 27 - the same day as the general election.

That was coincidental, says the council's electoral officer Peter Allsop. "We picked the day first."

But Mr Allsop will not be surprised if there is confusion and expects someone to turn up at a polling booth to deliver their council ballot papers on Saturday week.

Black and white billboards along Western Bay of Plenty State highways have already sparked perplexity. They state baldly: "Vote James Connell." But no such person is listed among general or local body election candidates.

An Omokoroa orchardist of that name is standing for election to the kiwifruit industry's Zespri Board and will know his fate tomorrow.

The only one of four regional candidates to put up hoardings between Katikati and Te Puke, Mr Connell had the signs prepared before the early general election date was set.

And yes, he has had people call him up asking what his philosophies are and if he is standing for New Zealand First or Act.

On a flier he has distributed, Mr Connell writes: "Making the simple complicated is easy. Making the complicated simple is creative."

Maybe he has quite a bit in common with Winston Peters.

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