Lockwood Smith MP
National Party Immigration Spokesman

11 September 2007

Children pay for changeable immigration policy?

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says commonsense should prevail in a Taranaki case which threatens to separate a mother from her children.

"I realise there are some cases where having a New Zealand-born child mustn't be used as a way to gain entry to New Zealand, but when you have got a genuine situation you'd like to think the system would show a bit more common sense."

Dr Smith is commenting on media reports about the circumstances confronting mother of two Rhonda Aylward, who is pleading with Immigration Minister David Cunliffe to bend the rules allow her to remain with her son, Cail, and the rest of her family in New Zealand.

Because of a recent change in immigration policy, Ms Aylward's job as a caregiver no longer automatically qualifies her for a work permit. To make matters worse, her daughter has been removed from school because her mother is now an illegal alien.

"This is at a time when the aged care sector is in desperate need of staff. Ms Aylward's not asking for a handout from taxpayers. She had a job, her employer backs her and she has been contributing to the community."

Dr Smith notes that according to reports today, Helen Clark's office has also been contacted about the case.

"Local Labour MP Harry Duynhoven's promised to challenge Immigration Minister David Cunliffe about Ms Aylward's case in the next couple of days. I certainly hope there's a quick resolution that doesn't involve the break-up of this family."

ENDS

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