Thai tiled Field relatives' businesses, National alleges

Taito Phillip Field

Not only did a Thai man seeking a New Zealand work permit tile Labour MP Taito Phillip Field's Samoan house, he worked on Mr Field's stepson's cake shop and another relative's pharmacy, National MP Lockwood Smith alleged today.

Mr Field is under police investigation over claims he accepted money from constituents, altered a document and a raft of allegations around a report by Noel Ingram, QC, who investigated Mr Field's dealings with Asian immigrants he helped gain visas.

Much of the investigation has centred on the case of Thai man Sunan Siriwan, who allegedly worked on Mr Field's house in Samoa while Mr Field helped him apply for a permit to work in New Zealand.

Mr Siriwan, his wife and son remain living in Apia.

In Parliament today, Dr Smith asked if when Mr Field made representations on Mr Siriwan's behalf, he should have told the Minister of Immigration that Mr Siriwan was tiling "460 square metres of his own house without pay, but also tiled Maxine's Cake Shop, owned by Mr Field's stepson in Samoa for no pay, and also laid a new floor at Maria's Healthcare Pharmacy, a business run by Mrs Field's daughter-in-law in Samoa".

Associate Minister for Immigration Clayton Cosgrove replied it would not be appropriate for any MP to make financial gain from any representations they made to immigration ministers.

Mr Cosgrove said all immigration cases were treated on their merits and repeatedly said he would not comment on the specific matters of Mr Field's case as he did not want to prejudice the police investigation.

Dr Smith then asked how the Minister of Immigration would respond to a representation from Mr Field "if he became aware Mr Field had told someone seeking his help on that immigration matter that he would have to pay money for Mr Field's assistance and that the more money he paid, the greater the chance of success".

Mr Cosgrove would only repeat his assertion that all immigration cases were treated equally.

"If you've got evidence take it to the police inquiry."

Mr Cosgrove also confirmed that from January 2003 until September 21, 2006, Mr Field had made 481 representations to immigration ministers.

Mr Field maintains his innocence and remains on leave from Parliament while the allegations are investigated.

- NZPA