15 July 2002

New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters has called for a full inquiry into immigration to stop the scams and to establish a clear immigration policy that New Zealanders agree on.

Mr Peters told a Rotorua meeting today that he had evidence that some immigrants are being offered the opportunity to buy “job offers” that increased their chances of getting into New Zealand.

He said the job offers were for sale at $10,000 and that he had been given the information from a migrant.

Mr Peters also outlined the case of an immigrant who ran up debts under different names and when the minister’s office was notified, her staff offered to pay the debts.

“There are numerous other scams such as false marriages and loan offers so that immigrants can get extra points. Some of these are now blatantly advertised in New Zealand papers.”

Mr Peters urged a bipartisan approach to an immigration inquiry so that policies were adopted that all New Zealanders could accept.

“We cannot continue with our ad hoc system and all these corrupt practices on the side,” he said.

ENDS

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