Peters slams migrant label

By FRANCESCA MOLD

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has criticised the use of the term "family homosexual category" in a letter from the Immigration Service to a new migrant given residency.

Mr Peters said he was surprised the category existed, saying it was wrong to select people for residence in New Zealand based on their sexual orientation.

But Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel said Mr Peters had scored an "own goal" by raising the issue when the "homosexual" category he referred to was abolished by one of his own former MPs three years ago.

Former Immigration Minister Tuariki Delamere got rid of the category in March 1999. He entered Parliament as a NZ First MP in 1996 but quit the party to become an independent member before his decision to abolish the category.

But the letter from the Immigration Service confirming the applicant's acceptance as a resident under the "family homosexual category" was sent in the past few months.

Another letter confirming the consideration of the application uses the same term.

Mr Peters questioned why an official would use the "homosexual" description now if the category had been abolished three years ago.

Ms Dalziel said the letter must have been sent out with an incorrect reference.

She added that if the change had not been made by Mr Delamere, she would have done so when becoming Immigration Minister.

Further reading
Feature: Immigration