Race office says Peters' immigration leaflet within law

By AUDREY YOUNG and KEVIN TAYLOR


The Race Relations Commissioner says people offended by New Zealand First's anti-immigration pamphlet should put it back in the post marked "Return to Sender".

The pamphlet was the subject of a withering attack in Parliament yesterday by Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel, who called it "filthy, lying propaganda".

NZ First leader Winston Peters thanked opponents for the publicity, then blamed Auckland's transport problems on immigration.

The leaflet, paid for by taxpayers through Mr Peters' parliamentary leader's budget, has outraged some posties, who have been threatened with disciplinary action if they refuse to deliver it.

Called "Whose Country Is It Anyway", the circulars say New Zealanders are "being squeezed out of our own country".

It says many immigrants become burdens on the welfare state at the expense of the taxpayer; and "it is not in our interest for thousands of Third World immigrants to come here for a life on the welfare system, bringing all their friends and relatives".

It has been delivered in Christchurch and Auckland.

The Human Rights Commission has received complaints, but yesterday issued a statement saying the circular "may be offensive and misleading but not unlawful".

To be unlawful, the material has to meet a test of being likely to incite racial disharmony.

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said assessment had to take into account freedom of expression.

"The right to freedom of expression includes the ability to make statements that may be considered highly controversial or unpopular.

"Freedom of expression works both ways. It is important that New Zealanders have their say. If people are offended by the material, let NZ First know by marking it 'Return to Sender' and sending it back."

Ms Dalziel described the leaflet as "deliberately designed to mislead".

"I'm not allowed to use words like liar, cheat, fraudster, coward, hypocrite if I am referring to an individual member, which I'm not at this moment."

She was tempted not to give Mr Peters the publicity he craved.

"But I think it is important we place on record in this House the abhorrence that every other member of Parliament that doesn't belong to NZ First feels about this disgraceful publication."

Mr Peters said he wanted to thank an Auckland postie and some "Government stooges" for some great publicity. His party had been swamped with responses, some from immigrants.

Labour had brought in hundreds of thousands of immigrants then "bleats about the collapse of the Auckland transport system. If you are sitting on a motorway in Auckland tonight, and you'll be grid-locked for sure ... you are there because, amongst other things, 40,000 have been placed in Auckland from abroad. What a joke."

Meanwhile, Green Party co-leader Rod Donald will again try to get political parties to state whether their advertising material is paid for by taxpayers.

He said taxpayers would be "doubly revolted" because this circular was financed by taxpayers.