Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:616;Page:12373] 
6.  
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
: Is New Zealand still a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees? 
Hon JIM SUTTON (Acting 
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
) 
: Yes. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: If that is the case does he not agree that Zaoui fits the description of persons deemed unworthy of international protection as per article 1(f) of the 1951 convention and will he provide me today with the up-to-date all-up costs of having Zaoui in this country? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I point out to the member that the Minister in charge of the implementation of the convention in New Zealand is the Minister of Immigration. I advise him to set down a question for that Minister. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This question has gone to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Surely the ministry can provide me with his answer. To duck now and tell me to go to the Minister of Immigration when I am talking about a convention that has costs attached to it is unfair and I invite him to answer my question properly. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: On this occasion I agree with the member and I ask the Minister to give an answer. 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I would point out that the details of a particular case if that is what is required should be directed to the Minister of Immigration. 
Keith Locke 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. On this question I advise the House that Mr Peters asked a similar question last week around the Zaoui case. Surely in preparing for this case the Minister should have looked at the Zaoui case in relation to the refugee convention. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That was not what the original question talked about. 
Tim Barnett 
: Has the Minister seen any reports on New Zealand’s handling of refugees and asylum seekers? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I have. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said during his visit here last month that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees holds up New Zealand as a model for others to follow in our treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. 
Keith Locke 
: Is it not true that the Refugee Status Appeals Authority in its lengthy determination of the Zaoui case did refer back to that specific provision in the 1951 convention referred to by Mr Peters and fully cleared Mr Zaoui of being a security risk under that particular clause? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: If the member has a question about a particular case it should be referred to the Minister of Immigration. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I remind the Minister of his responsibility to uphold the convention and therefore answer this question: how will he be responding to the Belgium Government’s official complaint and France’s dissatisfaction with regard to the New Zealand Refugee Status Appeals Authority’s decision on the Zaoui case that made a mockery of their judicial processes even though this New Zealand authority is a much inferior authority and will he allow the farce over Zaoui to continue to cause embarrassment internationally to this country? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I point out to the member that a process is under way and that will be followed through. 
Keith Locke 
: I seek leave to table the report of the Refugee Status Appeals Authority in the Zaoui case. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My concern with regard to question No. 6 is that last week we put it to the Prime Minister whereupon they promptly referred it to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We have sought to do that again today on this issue and now I am being referred to the Minister of Immigration. I am being given the bum’s rush and I think it is unfair. We are entitled to know the answer to this question given that he is the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and it is his job to uphold the United Nations convention we have signed up to. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will have a look at what the member says.