Second Iraqi official in NZ, says Peters

Winston Peters has revealed the name of the former Iraqi minister he claims is hiding in New Zealand but he is not the same former diplomat the Government has ordered to leave the country.

The diplomat had his visitor's permit revoked yesterday after living in New Zealand for nearly a year.

Mr Peters told the Prime Minister in Parliament that the man he referred to last week served under Saddam Hussein as Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, was a delegate to FAO and UNESCO in Baghdad, and came to New Zealand on a UN passport just one month ago.

He said the man uses two names - Amer Mahdi Alkhashali and Amer Mahdi Saleh Khashaly. 

Mr Peters said the Immigration Service failed to find the man even after he gave them details.

"The government has no idea who is coming into the country and this case proves it."

The Prime Minister Helen Clark told the House if the man arrived under a UN passport, as claimed by Mr Peters, then that would not necessarily raise concerns for the Immigration Service department.

However, she has assured MPs the Government will use Mr Peters' information to launch an immediate investigation.

- Newstalk ZB and NZ Herald