Goff wants repeat driving offenders sent home

By LOUISA CLEAVE

International students should have their visas revoked if they commit more than one serious driving offence, says Justice Minister Phil Goff.

Mr Goff has met transport, police and immigration ministers over the case of Jiang Kai Liao, an overstayer who was caught driving unlicensed three times before he ran a red light and killed Mt Roskill woman Anne Lester.

Mrs Lester, 63, was on her way to set up a dawn meditation service on Easter Sunday when Jiang slammed into her car at more than 80km/h at the intersection of Mt Albert and Dominion Rds.

Jiang had escaped detection for his previous tickets by giving police different versions of his name when he was pulled over.

He is to be sentenced next month and will be sent home after completing his sentence.

Ms Lester's family has asked the Government to make it mandatory to detain student visa holders the first time they commit a serious traffic or criminal offence.

"We [further] ask that the Government make it mandatory that upon being found guilty of any serious traffic or criminal offence, the student immigrant's visa be revoked and withdrawn automatically, and the guilty party be forced to leave New Zealand immediately following the serving of any sentence imposed by the courts.

"If the courts impose a fine the guilty party should be detained in custody until the fine has been collected, if necessary from the student's New Zealand guarantor, and then forced to leave the country," they said.

The Immigration Service can revoke a temporary permit if the holder breaks the law.

Mr Goff said revoking a permit on the first driving offence would depend on the nature of the case but it did happen. But repeat offending should not be tolerated.

"I'm advised it is required [to revoke a permit if the law is broken] under existing legislation.

"But I want to make sure there is enough understanding on the part of police and on the part of Immigration that this is what should occur."

Mr Goff said he was making inquiries into present practice "and whether there is a need for changes in practice".

A spokesman for the Lester family, including Ms Lester's 18-year-old son Robert, said they were glad Mr Goff was addressing the issue but his comments were not good enough.

If a temporary visa holder was caught driving unlicensed he or she should be detained or supervised until they left the country, a family spokesman said.

"If they do it once, and are allowed to stay, the next time they could kill somebody."

Mr Goff said he had asked that students coming to New Zealand were "fully informed" of licensing requirements and the law.

"It simply requires a piece of paper making it absolutely clear what their responsibilities are as a visitor to New Zealand and the consequences if they do not observe those responsibilities."

Most international students were law-abiding and their reputation should not be sullied by unacceptable behaviour by a minority.

Arron Baker, the Immigration Service acting market manager, border and investigations, said Jiang would have come up in the system as an overstayer when his visa expired.

He could not say if staff were "actively looking for him".

Mr Baker said there was no record of traffic offences on Jiang's file.

The service would look at the case to identify any deficiencies on the part of immigration.

"We do and will continue to exchange information with the police."

Students to get video guide to driving in NZ

A video guide to driving in New Zealand will be handed out to dozens of schools with international students.

The seven-minute film Driving in NZ was made by Study Auckland, part of Tourism Auckland, with funding from the Auckland and North Shore city councils.

The education package also includes Land Transport Safety Authority fact sheets and information about a free programme for students with their learner's licence.

North Shore City's road safety co-ordinator, Helen Whittal, said the video gave basic tips and aimed to improve driving skills. "A lot of overseas students come here with little driving experience. We are focusing on local rules and good driving habits.

"It's also a requirement of the Ministry of Education's Code of Practice for schools to educate their students about driving laws and road safety. This new video tool aims to help them do that."