Well, conceivably these parents could be in their 40s and 50s and who could otherwise be refused entry because they don't have the required skill set to come into the country in their own right.
Some of their kids have gone to Australia, where, with their Kiwi citizenship, they're entitled to live, leaving their parents behind because at least they'll be looked after by our health and welfare system which wouldn't be the case across the ditch.
Six months ago, the Herald got figures under the Official Information Act showing 3000 kids have taken off, leaving their parents behind while almost 23,000 "sponsoring" kids were still in the country - but whether they're caring for their charges no one seems to know.
And immigration rules say that if most of a parent's children are living here then they're entitled to have them join them.
Of course, that means that with China's now recently defunct one child policy, most Chinese qualify as a parent sponsor.
It's not surprising then that China is the largest source country, at around 50 per cent, of those approved under the parent category.
Goodness only knows what the figures are now.
It seems the Beehive's finally heard the dog whistle being blown by Peters and is for the next two years halving parent reunification and tightening up on the skills required before they qualify to come into the country.
While they're at it they should be looking at the student visas that allows those studying here to work and ultimately get residency.
With election year looming there's plenty of puff left in Peters on this one.
Barry Soper is the Political Editor for Newstalk ZB
