Holocaust historian seeks permit again

By ANGELA GREGORY


Banned Holocaust historian David Irving is trying again to enter New Zealand.

A month ago, he was stopped from boarding a Qantas flight to Auckland from Los Angeles.

Irving had hoped to travel to Wellington - he had been invited to speak to the National Press Club.

But the Immigration Service refused to let him into the country because he had previously been deported from Canada.


Irving said from his London home yesterday that he was taking steps to apply for a special permit as it was the only way he could seek a judicial review of the ban.


In a letter hand-delivered to New Zealand House in London, Irving said that if the application was denied, he would seek legal remedies in the New Zealand courts.

"Please take notice, and pass it to your superior authorities in New Zealand, that my solicitors will then make application for disclosure of all relevant files, including those of the Hon. Helen Clark."

Irving said he reserved his right to seek damages from the Government.

He was particularly keen to get the Prime Minister's file on his case because he wanted to see what "malign influences" made her "change her mind" about his entry.

Helen Clark said in July that she found Irving's views' repugnant, but would "vigorously uphold his right to say them".

A spokesman for Helen Clark said yesterday that statement was made before she learned that Irving was not allowed in the country because he had been deported from Canada.