No plans to 'adopt' Tongan overstayers - Ngapuhi elder

Pacific peoples will be welcomed on to Te Tiriti O Waitangi Marae this weekend, along with other visitors, but there is no move to grant them citizenship, says a Ngapuhi elder.

One News reported last night that hundreds of Tongan overstayers have been invited to Waitangi on Saturday where they could get citizenship in exchange for $1000 from Ngapuhi iwi elder Kingi Taurua.

It quoted Mr Taurua as saying he was prepared to adopt them into his tribe.

But Ngapuhi elder and former Maori vice-president of the National Party, Rahiri (Dick) Dargaville said that had not been discussed by sub tribes of the Ngapuhi iwi - Ngati Rahiri and Ngati Kawa.

Mr Dargaville said Mr Taurua's comments were "misleading".

"Our primary role is to welcome and host the manuhiri (visitors), our planing has been in vogue for several months, and this is where we want to focus our energies. The Tongan overstayer issue is not on the sub-tribes' agenda," Mr Dargaville said.

He said Mr Taurua may have plans to adopt overstayers but that has nothing to do with Ngati Rahiri and Ngati Kawa.

" No such debate has taken place here at Te Tiriti O Waitangi marae. Whatever announcements Kingi Taurua intends to put to the government, or the issue of $1000 per Tongan person and as to whether such payment gives legal citizenship has not been discussed by the hapu," Mr Dargaville said.

He said he will be chairing a political forum on Friday and the matter will be discussed then if it is on the agenda.

"In the meantime we call on Kingi to take his rightful place on the taumata and be with his people. Polarizing such issues using the media is not in keeping with Ngapuhi customs and traditions," he said.

Pacific Islanders have been warned not to fall prey to an alleged scam targeting overstayers being offered New Zealand citizenship in exchange for $1000.

Immigration New Zealand and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs said adoption into a hapu did not translate into citizenship, and collecting money for it was illegal.

Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman said that people should not be taken in by Mr Taurua's offer.

"I cannot state strongly enough that the only path to residence or citizenship is through the New Zealand Government," he said in a statement.

"Adoption into a hapu will not legally confer citizenship or residency upon anyone. The only agency that can offer residency is Immigration New Zealand.

"My advice to people is that if approached by anyone offering New Zealand citizenship or residency via hapu adoption, contact the police."

Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni said the scam took advantage of desperate people and followed a similar scam last year.

She said the Government needed to crack down on offenders.

"In the meantime people need to be aware that these types of scheme are continuing to operate. People should be very dubious of anyone offering them New Zealand citizenship for a price.

"People need to know that no-one other than Immigration New Zealand has the power to grant permanent residency and only Internal Affairs can offer citizenship. If an offer to help you gain New Zealand citizenship sounds too good to be true then it probably is."

- NZ Herald staff with NZPA