Smith Lockwood: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Smith Lockwood: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:633;Page:4836] 
6.  
Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National—Rodney) 
 to the  
Minister of Immigration 
: Is he satisfied Taito Phillip Field provided the Associate Minister of Immigration the Hon Damien O’Connor with all relevant information prior to the Minister’s decision to issue a special direction for a work visa for Mr Sunan Siriwan; if not what additional information should Taito Phillip Field have provided in order for the Minister to make an appropriate decision? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Immigration) 
: 
 The Ingram report indicates he did not provide all such information. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Would the fact that Taito Phillip Field sent Mr Sunan Siriwan to Samoa where Mr Sunan Siriwan tiled 460 square metres of Mr Field’s house without pay be considered relevant information and has Taito Phillip Field explained to him why he did not provide that relevant information prior to the Minister’s decision? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: The Associate Minister was entitled to receive from Mr Field all relevant information—as Associate Ministers are from any member making such representations. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Would the fact that Mr Sunan Siriwan laid a new floor at Maria’s Health Care Pharmacy a business run by Mrs Field’s daughter-in-law in Samoa be relevant information; if so what explanation has Taito Phillip Field given for his failure to provide that information prior to the Minister’s decision? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: The Ingram report makes clear that Mr Field may have committed some errors of judgment—[ 
Interruption 
] For the benefit of members opposite that is not now news. The Prime Minister concurs with that view and so do I. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Would the fact that Mr Sunan Siriwan was tiling Maxine’s Cake Shop owned by Mr Field’s stepson in Samoa for no pay be considered relevant information; if so what advice has he received as to why Taito Phillip Field failed to provide that information prior to the Minister’s decision? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: To my knowledge I have received no specific advice on that matter. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Would it be relevant information that at the very time Taito Phillip Field was making representations to the Associate Minister that a special direction be granted to allow Mr Sunan Siriwan to be reunited with his child in New Zealand that child was in fact living in Thailand; if so what explanation has been provided by Mr Field as to why that relevant information was not provided? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: As I have said and as we have traversed in this House Ministers are entitled to all relevant information such as that. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Would it be relevant information that at the very time Taito Phillip Field was making representations for work visas to be granted to both Mr Sunan Siriwan and Ms Phanngarm to allow for the reunification of this family in New Zealand Mr Field’s stepson had just paid to fly Ms Phanngarm and her child from Thailand to Samoa where Mr Sunan Siriwan was working without pay on Mr Field’s house and has he received any explanation as to why that relevant information was not provided by Mr Field prior to the Minister’s decision? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: Yes and no.