HIV ruling raises others' eyebrows

The Government's decision to let refugees from Zimbabwe become permanent residents regardless of their HIV status has raised questions from other refugees.

The move was a welcome humanitarian gesture, but other refugees should be given the same chance, said Refugee Council president Nagalingam Rasalingam.

He said his group had been told the annual quota for refugees with HIV was 20.

The Government says about 800 of 1300 Zimbabweans who fled Robert Mugabe's regime are not applying for permanent residency because they are worried they will be sent back if they fail HIV tests.

It believes as many as 160 of the 800 will be HIV-positive, which will cost the country $2.9 million a year.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the policy for Zimbabweans showed the Government had gone soft on immigration.

Mr Peters said it had been forced to coax Zimbabwean refugees out of hiding with the bait of no-questions-asked residency because it did not have "the foggiest notion" where they were.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said the new policy was designed to make sure people were tested and treated before the disease spread.

It would be inappropriate to repatriate Zimbabweans who had HIV because of the "awful and oppressive" nature of the Mugabe regime, he said.

Aids Foundation executive director Rachael Le Mesurier said there were high levels of anxiety among Zimbabweans who suspected their HIV-status would lead to them being expelled from New Zealand.

NZ First deputy leader Peter Brown asked Health Minister Pete Hodgson in Parliament how the refugees had been allowed entry.

"These people were required to declare they were of good health and good character when they arrived."

Mr Hodgson said the danger the refugees posed to New Zealanders' health was not from people who knew they had HIV but those who did not.

- NZPA