(reposted to correct byline)

9 November 1999

DUNNE SLAMS DELAMERE'S RACIST IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT

United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says Immigration Minister Tuariki Delamere is guilty of the most amazing double standards by running a racist Immigration Department abroad, while pandering at home to Maori radicals like Tame Iti.

Mr Dunne says the way Immigration policy deals with visitors' visas to New Zealand is becoming increasingly racist, yet Mr Delamere seems unwilling to get involved in sorting it out.

"I have become increasingly angry over the last couple of years at the number of constituency cases I am dealing with where visitors' visas have been refused for single people seeking to visit New Zealand for genuine family purposes."

"By far the worst Immigration Service office in this regard is New Delhi, and I have been sadly forced to the reluctant conclusion that the basis of its conclusions is nothing more than simple racism."

"It seems to view every young single person with a brown skin as a potential overstayer in this country, while Mr Delamere stands idly by, condoning this racism by his silence."

"Frankly, I would have expected better of Mr Delamere, but things have got far worse while he has been Minister."

"He does not seem interested in being as fair minded to the decent brothers and sisters from the Indian subcontinent and East Asia wanting to visit family in this country, who have been the victims of the New Delhi office's racism, as he seems determined to promote the separatist agenda of radicals like Tame Iti."

"It is an extraordinary double standard."

"If Mr Delamere really wants to be remembered for making a positive contribution to race relations and New Zealand's multicultural society, he should use his remaining couple of weeks in office to stamp out the racism rampant in the New Delhi office in particular, rather than consorting with dangerous radicals like Tame Iti," Mr Dunne says.

ENDS
New Zealand's Liberal Party

MEDIA STATEMENT
HON PETER DUNNE, MP
LEADER UNITED NEW ZEALAND
Parliament Buildings, Wellington 1.
h (04)471 9410 or (025) 469 808. Fax (04)499 7266.
e-mail: peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz. Internet Address: http://www.united.org.nz

New Zealand's Liberal Party

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