Give money back, Pacific leaders urge 'consultant'

Self-styled immigration consultant Gerrard Otimi says he is expanding his business as Pacific community leaders urge him to give scammed overstayers their money back.

For three weeks Mr Otimi has been selling hope to overstayers. For $500 they can get their passports stamped. The Mangere man argues the process allows him to whangai or "adopt" overstayers into his hapu, meaning they can live in New Zealand.

The scheme has led politicians such as Maori Party MP Hone Harawira to call anyone associated with it "packs of thieving ****ing scumbags."

When the Weekend Herald spoke to Mr Otimi yesterday, he said he was heading into meetings to discuss setting up a co-operative, intended to create jobs for those who had paid.

Asked what people get for $500, Mr Otimi said the money would fund "administrative" and co-operative costs as well as setting up small businesses. None have been set up.

Just how many people have paid the fee is not clear, and Mr Otimi will not say how much money he has made.

He defended his service - even though police say it has no standing in law and won't help overstayers become residents - by arguing that other consultants were paid much more and Pacific Islanders felt better once they'd paid the fee.

"For them, paying $500 is basically a godsend because, when you look at consultants and immigration lawyers, they're getting $2000 to $5000.

"Certainly don't call me a scammer or a fraudster because it's taken me nearly 45 years to get to this stage of helping people," Mr Otimi said.

He hails from Ngati Maniapoto but the Maniapoto Maori Trust Board says it has not heard of the hapu under which he is promoting his scheme.

Manukau City Council's Pacific Island Advisory Committee chairwoman Tupou Manpori urged Mr Otimi to return the money. Mr Harawira criticised him for preying on vulnerable people.