Kiribati President Anote Tong said yesterday that he knew the former head of the Immigration Service, Mary Anne Thompson, and that she was a woman of "good character".
But he said they did not study together at the London School of Economics.
Ms Thompson resigned in May amidcontroversy over her actions in helping relatives from Kiribati claim places in the Kiribati migrants quota outside of policy.
The State Services Commission has also referred to the police for investigation the matter of whether she holds a PhD from the London School of Economics as was widely believed.
Mr Tong, who attended St Bede's College in Christchurch, holds a masters in economics from the London School of Economics. He said he knew Ms Thompson, who lived in Kiribati in the 1980s, but had not studied with her.
"As far as I knew Mary Anne, she was a woman of good character."
Regarding the issue of residency being granted outside policy, Mr Tong said it was a matter for the New Zealand Government.
"We as a country don't want to be involved with anything illegal or not according to the policies. We would like to be able to adhere to the policies and the policies of any country we are dealing with."
