KEY POINTS:
Immigration Minister David Cunliffe has decided the family of Ahmed Zaoui cannot come to New Zealand while the Algerian refugee's security risk certificate review is being determined.
"As Mr Zaoui's own status in New Zealand is yet to be determined, I have decided that it is not appropriate that his family should be allowed to come here," Mr Cunliffe said.
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This forum debate is now closed. Here is a selection of your views:
W.R.Jenkins
An emphatic yes to that question. We are supposedly a Christian nation. Our marriage vows contains the sentiment that once a couple is joined together in Holy matrimony, no man should put asunder or separate the happy couple. But putting even that aside, this case must be the laughing stock of nations. That petty little politicians should play this silly little game astounds me. Many fair-minded Kiwis like me, think Helen and her lackeys should wake their ideas up instead of being led by the nose by their American counterparts.
Sandy Ghozali
No, Mr Zaouis family should not be granted the bid to join him in New Zealand as his asylum case has yet to be decided. As it is now, Mr Zaoui and his family are able to maintain regular contacts and if he misses them and wishes to see them, Mr Zaoui can always depart New Zealand to join his family who are safely reside in an undisclosed South-East Asian country.
Tony Chadwick
Regrettably, the Ministers decision is correct given the debacle Mr Zaoui has been subject to. Kiwis dont seem to realise Ahmed Zaoui followed the UN rules to the letter; he tore up the false papers he had used to escape with, he flushed them away and he went to the NZ Customs/Border Post immediately he landed, giving his true identity and asking for asylum. Many escapees from tyrannical and illegal Governments have done this over the years, going back to the refugees from Nazidom. His problem was in being the first one to land here after NZ accepted the establishment of the International Terrorist List, pushed for by the US and already known to have many innocent names on it. He is the guinea pig in this case, as NZ muddles along trying to sort it. But under the circumstances, his family cannot be brought under a visitors permit, which is what he asked for, though by all accounts they are very nice people and miss him very much.
C Davis
Ahmed Zaouis is but one out of so many who have gained entry, into NZ through refugee status and the back door, how do we know that any of those ones are not terrorist, rapist, murderers etc hidden amongst them all. Receiving all the benefits and privileges from our government, legal system and do gooders. Keeping our legal system well paid, all for the all mighty dollar.Look at the cost of Ahmed Zaouis legal fees 2 million of tax payers hard earned money, and that is just his legal costs. How ridiculous is that. He should have been deported straight away and that goes for all who come into our country who should not be here and commit crimes, Instant deportation. Come on NZ get a grip we are slipping big time...NZ has become a soft touch, we need to harden up, before its too late.
Dave McLoughlin
Do we really want to encourage queue jumpers to enter NZ and then reward them by letting in their whole family?Yeah right!Give us a break.
Jody
If his family want to come here too its quite simple. Ignore all of the hype and garbage... do they qualify as immigrants to gain residency? does he ? if they qualify let them in. if not , dont. Why is this guy and his family different to any other person(s) wanting to enter? If he destroyed his own passport, send him packing.
Charles
This country is a joke..Labour need to stick to their first decision and he and his family should not be allowed to settle in NZ. Send him home. The taxpayers of NZ are sick of paying for Labours PC indecision.
Don
Although I have an open mind on whether Ahmed Zaoui should be allowed to remain here the process has dragged on ridiculously long and it is inhumane on his family to keep them away from him. Let them come, and if he ends up being deported they go to.
Colin England
The problem with allowing his family in is that he is not supposed to be here in the first place. He stayed in NZ illegally. His application for refugee status was turned down. The fact that he is still here and supported by the NZ public is enough. If he wants to be with his family nobody is stopping him from getting on a plane and going to them.
Ian
His family should not come here and he should be deported and save tax payers any further costs.
Mea
Definitely no entry to NZ for Ahmed Zaouis family. He shouldnt even be in this country. Zaoui destroyed his travel and identity documents for whatever reason only known to him, in an effort to declare refugee status. Such actions are suspect and dishonest, so why should we be expected to play host to his family and keep them as well? There are many good, decent, hardworking and very honest people in other parts of the world, who have tried to enter NZ to live, and have had their applications declined. Also these people were not a security risk either, whereas Zaouis security status is still undecided or for that matter even known! NZ does not owe Zaoui or his family anything. Return the man to where he originally came from in the first place and let him face the consequences. NZ is not an international charity!
Dave
His family should not come and he shouldnt be here.
Grant OConnell
Presumably Mr Zaoui is free to travel to where his family is? If so it makes sense for him to do this, especially if they are the most important people in the world to him.
Corinne
If his family fund their own return travel and don't receive any government benefits, I think they should be allowed to come. It must have been awful for him to be away from his family for such a long time and very hard on his wife and children. Re-unite the family and deport them all together if it comes to that.
Turia Davis
It is silly of NZ immigration officials to withhold permission for Mr Zaouis family to join him here. They would make great hostages if he decided to get stroppy and terrorise us.
Alan Wilkinson
The way this case has been mishandled is tragic for the Zaoui family and a lost opportunity for New Zealand. Instead of behaving like the puppet of foreign "intelligence" agencies, our Government should have had the courage to do what was right and obvious from the start. The West needs to build bridges to moderate, educated and intelligent Muslims. Zaoui is clearly such a person. The cost of not doing so will exceed by orders of magnitude the cost of such small generosities. Unhappily, the small-minded attitudes and vindictiveness of very many people come unpleasantly to the surface in immigration matters.
Michelle
There are so many other refugees out there suffering real hardship and want to come into NZ honestly. Why should we accept someone who is wanted for terrorism, that tore up their passport on the plane? There are far more deserving people! I cant believe we even gave this guy time in our 5-star prison and tax-funded legal aide. He should have been sent home. For all the bleeding heart tree-huggers who want to save the world For the amount they spent on him they could have funded whole families of refugees to come here. Why save one terrorist when you can save a whole lot more of the persecuted? Or even better, why save one terrorist when you can fund a new kindergarten or $2 million dollars worth of hospital operations?
Rodge
Let Zaoui be sent to either France or Belgium where as a convicted felon. He can serve his sentence, one would hope, without fear of torture and death.
Y Hayward
No. His family should not be allowed into NZ. Wwe have paid enough in legal aid for a ridiculous case which should have never gone to trial. If there was an ounce of doubt he should have been immediately deported - we have enough genuine NZers to pay benefits to without taking on people such as this. if Mr Zhoui is so desperate to see his family then he should do the right thing - leave NZ - stop bludging off us and go to whereever they are - we do not need him here.
Bob Sadler
If zaoui misses his family so much why doesnt he go visit them? i don't believe he suffers any impediment in this regard.
Colleen Hopwood
I am saddened to read the words of NZ first spokesman, Peter Brown, re. the situation Mr Zaoui is in. He seems to have very limited knowledge of this case, a case that brings NZ history on human rights into disrepute. All caring New Zealanders want fair and open treatment in our courts for all, and this has not been the case for Ahmed Zaoui. To allow his family to be with him while this very suspect security certificate is reviewed, is surely simply a matter of basic human caring, and can in no way effect the outcome of the review. When will we have the courage to stand for what we believe in again?
Frances
Incredibly saddening to hear Zaouis family have been refused entry to New Zealand. The Govt response to Zaoui is an extremely disappointing episode for us all, and an unbearable situation. It is horrifying to realise our Ministers are this inhumane. Wake up David Cunliffe and Peter Brown - you are the ones who waste money by continuing this persecution. I am happier my taxes are used to support Zaoui than most other Govt funded schemes. My apologies Zaoui and family for the loss and pain caused by the NZ Government.
Alex
This is a really sad decision. Allowing a woman and four children to the country is not gonna change the world for us but not doing so does make it very hard for Zaoui. He has been suffering for long time for the only reason that he got elected under a dictatorship system where he was just about getting killed because he won the election!? I believe we should rather help him.
Al
Your article fails to acknowledge that Ahmed Zaoui hasnt got a passport because he tore it up. If an American, under sentence of death for terrorism, arrived here, having torn up his passport on the plane, would we harbour him? Offer him free legal advice? Zaoui arrives here, with no credentials, appeals to the bleeding hearts among us, offer him free legal advice and offer him safe sanctuary, against the advice of the very people we employ to protect us. Ridiculous. Who says we are not a soft touch. We are a nation of shrek sheep, easily lead as theres so much wool over our eyes we cant see the light of day. Ahmed, if you want to see your family - go home – simple.
Anita Allan
I really am not sure what is going on here but if he has been granted entry then why shouldnt his family. While the nation concentrates on him and his immigration woes there are many other ethnicities sneaking in the back door so to speak. Just take a look at Auckland! It is spot the Kiwi there, so dont quibble over one man and his family.
