MPs surprised to find kidnapper working in Beehive

Politicians have expressed surprise that a man jailed for his part in the audacious bunker-in-the-bush kidnap conspiracy has been working as a tradesman at the Beehive.

British-born Simon Phillpott was jailed in 2002 for 2 years after pleading guilty to conspiring with his stepfather John Burrett, and Burrett's nephew, Matthew Payne, to kidnap Wellington businessman Bill Trotter for a $1 million ransom and hide him in a buried bunker.

The plot was foiled when a contractor laying possum poison discovered the bunker and told police.

Now it has been revealed that Phillpott - who has since been released from prison and now works for Upper Hutt company Twin Lakes Engineering - has been carrying out construction work at the Beehive.

Since he was released from jail in 2003, he has been fighting a deportation order imposed upon him at sentence. He committed the crime, for which he pleaded guilty, five years after being granted New Zealand residency.

National Party immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith said questions needed to be asked about the validity of work permits for people facing deportation orders.

There also needed to be tougher scrutiny over people who could "brush shoulders" with ministers and Members of Parliament, he said.

In March the Deportation Review Tribunal, which initially took eight months to reach a decision, upheld a removal order. The order was overturned on appeal by the High Court.

Justice Ron Young criticised the way the tribunal analysed Phillpott's initial appeal and asked it to hurry up and decide his status.

After a day-long hearing this month, the tribunal reversed its original decision and allowed Phillpott to remain in New Zealand.

It has yet to issue its written decision explaining why he can stay.

"I just want to start again ... and be a good citizen," said Mr Phillpott. "Life's really looking up for me again. At the end of the day, justice has been done."

He said he underwent security checks before he was allowed to work at the Beehive. "I can walk anywhere in that place," he said. "They all know about my background and are OK about it."

Mr Phillpott said he had given up hope after the tribunal's March decision, but was encouraged to continue the battle by his employer.

A spokesman for the company said Mr Phillpott was an outstanding tradesman who had been working on a job at the Beehive for the past year or so.

Act leader Rodney Hide was surprised that Mr Phillpott was working at the Beehive given his conviction.

But if he had to stay in the country then it was quite likely that the Beehive was the best place for him, Hide added.

"They should let more ex-cons work in the Beehive," he said. "That way we may get the tougher sentencing that our country so desperately wants and needs."

- NZPA and HERALD ON SUNDAY