Visa pregnancy tests irk Tongans

By HELEN TUNNAH, deputy political editor

An immigration crackdown on foreign women having babies in New Zealand has upset Pacific neighbours, who say asking women to have pregnancy tests before they can travel here is offensive.

Tongan community leaders yesterday told MPs that their women, many with strong Christian beliefs, found the tests hurtful.

Green MP Keith Locke last night called for the pregnancy tests to be stopped immediately.

"It's just completely unacceptable. It is demeaning; it must be stopped immediately," he said.

"I'm quite horrified. It certainly is culturally insensitive."

Immigration Minister Paul Swain said last night that he did not know about the pregnancy testing until told yesterday.

He would speak to officials and comment after being briefed.

The Immigration Service has confirmed women may be asked to undertake a pregnancy test before they are granted a visa.

But operations manager Steve Jones told the Herald the policy was not applied to all women, and would not bar a woman from coming just because she was pregnant.

The policy was introduced last year amid concerns about the number of foreign women coming to New Zealand to give birth, at no charge.

Maternity packages were being advertised in some countries, and district health boards were complaining publicly about the costs.

A baby born in New Zealand is automatically entitled to become a citizen.

Health Minister Annette King changed the rules so foreign women who gave birth here could be charged for medical services.

However, the Immigration Service policy changes were not thought to have been publicly announced.

The Hutt Valley Tongan Community Association and the Tongan Wellington Family Charitable Trust told an MPs' inquiry into Tonga yesterday that the tests, which they thought were being applied to most Tongan women, were an intrusion.

Tevita Finau said Tongans felt they were discriminated against, because women from countries that do not require visas to enter did not have to undertake tests.

"Do we do that to the Australians; do we do that to other countries?" Mr Finau said. "No, we don't do that. We do it to the Tongans. This is very discriminatory."

Taimi 'o Tonga reporter Taina Enoke told the Herald she had been asked to provide a pregnancy test when applying for a visa to visit here.

She had been told some women had abused their access to New Zealand to have babies here while on temporary visitor's visas.

"I felt it was an invasion of my privacy. But if women here have been abusing it then I suppose I can see their reason."

Mr Jones said the number of women asked to take tests so far was not known.

"It's a very difficult balancing act to meet the needs of the client, and protect New Zealand's interests as well.

"Coming to New Zealand to give birth to a child is not a bona fide reason for being here.

"If what you're applying for is a genuine temporary visa in accordance with the rules, then that's absolutely fine.

"If, however, you are saying I'm going to visit my sister but really the last three times we gave you a visa you came down and gave birth, and here you are ... pregnant again, then I think it would be reasonable for us to consider that maybe there is another agenda here."

Mr Jones said the Immigration Service would be happy to meet anyone offended by the policy.

Immigration Service spokesman Brett Solvander said it was realised that it was seen as insensitive to suggest an unmarried Pacific Island woman may be pregnant.

But he said those women were not targeted.

Pregnancy tests

* Those targeted are: Women who have been to NZ before and had a child.

* Married women who have previously had children.

* Single women who have had a child.

- additional reporting: Angela Gregory