Clark defends citizenship review

1.00pm

Government MPs are split over plans to tighten New Zealand's citizenship laws.

Internal Affairs Minister George Hawkins has circulated draft legislation that would give the Government the power to decline and even revoke New Zealand passports and citizenship for security reasons.

The Government's coalition partner -- the Progressive Coalition with two MPs -- says it is opposed to possible changes to the Citizenship Act and Passport Act.

Mooted changes include authorities having the power to revoke or refuse a passport with the explanation that national security is at stake, no automatic citizenship for a child born in New Zealand to parents who do not have permanent residency or citizenship, and increasing from three to five years the time immigrants spend here before they can apply for citizenship.

Progressive MP Matt Robson said the draft laws allowing the Security Intelligence Service to block people holding passports with limited right of appeal go too far.

"It's a very backward step and I think a very dangerous step," Mr Robson said.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said the review of citizenship had been going on for some time and was still at a very early stage.

She said Mr Robson had been "privileged" to receive preliminary work and had not raised any concerns through the proper channels.

Helen Clark said she had not seen the draft laws from the review, but said citizenship laws did need amending.

"There are some areas that need attention with respect to passports," Miss Clark said.

The United States was requiring tougher rules and if New Zealanders wanted to be able to travel the Government would have to implement them.

Helen Clark said she was also concerned about incidents of people flying to New Zealand for a short time and having babies here to ensure they gained passports.

She emphasised that the review was still at an early stage and if Mr Robson had concerns there were ways of having them addressed.

"He will have to answer to his party leader," Miss Clark said.

Mr Robson was unrepentant.

"I am a member of the Government of course as a coalition partner, but that doesn't make me someone who has to sit there mute when I see actions or proposals that are wrong."

Mr Robson was proposing to his party not to accept most of the proposals.

Green MP Keith Locke agreed it would be dangerous to give a minister "draconian" powers to decide who the new bill would apply to.

"Those New Zealanders who have been blase about the treatment of refugees like (Algerian asylum seeker) Ahmed Zaoui should wake up to the fact that their human rights are now in the firing line," Mr Locke said.

"This legislation is not being driven by any objective need. It is simply the Government trying to prove to foreign governments that it's doing its bit for the so-called 'war on terror'."

If a New Zealander was guilty of a crime they should be put before a court of law, Mr Locke said.

Security Intelligence Service director of security Richard Woods recently revealed that 26,000 people seeking citizenship in 2002-2003 were vetted and that three were blocked.

He would not say why they were not given citizenship but described a New Zealand passport as an "immensely valuable document".

The three remain in New Zealand.

National MP Wayne Mapp had indicated his party would support the tougher measures ensuring the Government has the numbers in Parliament to pass the proposals.

Asked about the powers to decline and revoke passports, Helen Clark -- citing the issue of people flying into the country on temporary permits to have their children here -- said the Government would be silly not to look at this, given what other countries were doing.

The rights of citizens to hold their passports had to be balanced with other rights, including the rights of the State, the Prime Minister said on Newstalk ZB.

If a passport was obtained by fraudulent means, or if a person was also a citizen of another country and acted in a manner deemed contrary to the interests of New Zealand, their passports would be taken.

"People can have their passports taken away now on certain grounds. Now, if legislation comes in -- and there's no legislation before Parliament right now -- people can debate the balance but there will always be grounds for a country to say that someone should not have its passport," Helen Clark said.

Mr Hawkins said tougher rules were necessary.

"Following the terrorist attacks I think most of the countries of the civilised world have had a look at their citizenship and passport legislation," he said.

The changes would comply with the Bill of Rights and those denied passports would have some recourse.

The review had been done by the Internal Affairs department with input from various government agencies including the SIS.

"These aren't heavy moves at all," Mr Hawkins said,

The public would have the all the usual avenues of comment and debate and Mr Robson had pre-empted consultation and submissions by releasing confidential draft work.

"Changes will happen before it gets into Parliament," Mr Hawkins said.

- NZPA