Embassy failed detainee, say Greens

The New Zealand Embassy failed a Motueka man detained in the United States and the Government must take steps to ensure shortcomings from the Washington-based staff are not repeated, the Greens say.

Green Party foreign affairs spokesman Keith Locke said the Embassy had made no direct contact with James Kirkwood, who spent seven weeks in a detention centre for a visa violation.

The 26-year-old aircraft engineer returned to New Zealand on Friday night after being released from the Louisiana centre.

Mr Kirkwood and eight British colleagues working for Merchant Aviation were arrested in May for working without the correct visa after the United Kingdom company pulled out of its US project.

New Zealand consular staff "went no further" than talking to a lawyer assigned to Mr Kirkwood, Mr Locke said today.

"That is inexcusable, especially when his British workmates were quickly talked to by British authorities and were then on a plane out within two weeks.

"After speaking to James Kirkwood today, it is clear to me that our embassy staff failed him."

Foreign Minister Phil Goff had been asked in writing to look into the apparent mishandling of Mr Kirkwood's case, he said.

"I have also requested that his ministry engage the American authorities to put in place a system to ensure that no more New Zealanders are treated so dreadfully.

"We should point out to them that Americans guilty of such minor irregularities would not be jailed and their cases would be dealt with fairly and promptly."

Mr Kirkwood has said the Louisiana detention centre was "unfit for animals", his treatment degrading and the food sometimes inedible.

- NZPA