Smith Lockwood: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Smith Lockwood: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:648;Page:16894] 
10.  
Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National—Rodney) 
 to the  
Minister of Immigration 
: Is it correct that all applicants for visas and permits must be of good character and that applicants are required to declare when applying for residence whether or not they are under investigation in any country? 
Hon SHANE JONES (Associate Minister of Immigration) 
on behalf of the  
Minister of Immigration 
: Yes. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Would it be evidence of good character if an applicant who was a solicitor had altered a rape complainant’s statement without the complainant’s agreement and added sodomy to the allegation of rape while being fully aware that the further allegation was untrue—behaviour that led to that solicitor being struck off in the United Kingdom for her proven dishonesty? 
Hon SHANE JONES 
: When applicants wanting to come to our country seek a permit they are required to make a declaration. I presume the member is referring to a couple who have been in the media recently. If it comes to pass that their declarations have been either untruthful or grossly inaccurate then be it on their heads. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: How can the Immigration Service claim that a man met good character requirements when he was under investigation for committing the criminal offence of fraudulently claiming to be a solicitor in the United Kingdom and when he made a victim of rape re-enact her rape while dressed in a nightie; how would such a person meet good character requirements in New Zealand? 
Hon SHANE JONES 
: In the event that such a person who is not currently a resident was to become a resident such matters would be investigated in respect of the process of when he or she actually applied to become a resident. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: What background checks were made on Jane Loveday and Richard Vosper given that a 30-second Google search at the time of their applications would have revealed that she was under investigation for grossly reckless behaviour including knowingly falsifying legal documents and that he was under investigation for impersonating a solicitor; and is this just further evidence to support the claim by an unnamed whistleblower in the Immigration Service last week that applications for work permits for residents are being approved without any supporting evidence whatsoever? 
Hon SHANE JONES 
: No the declaration that they would have made on work permits in order to come here would have reflected what they put down. Members can rest assured that I am quite confident now that this information has been brought to the attention of officials that those officials will be testing the veracity of what the applicants said. However they are not residents. When residency applications are made an inordinately thorough assessment is undertaken. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Will the Minister now confirm that the Immigration Service is reviewing the cases of Jane Loveday and Richard Vosper; if not will he ask it to do so in order to make sure that their work permits are revoked and they are deported? 
Hon SHANE JONES 
: An application has been made for residency. Their application will be thoroughly investigated although fairness and transparency will be observed. In relation to the existing work permits they have if the member has further information he can by all means make it available but he can rest assured that the original information provided by this hapless couple is being raked over as we speak. 
Peter Brown 
: Does the Minister consider that a man who was accepted into New Zealand because of an arranged marriage and whose wife and sponsor withdrew her sponsorship after he was arrested and convicted of attempting to strangle her with a bathrobe to be of good enough character to remain in this country? 
Hon SHANE JONES 
: The details sound quite lurid. However I can assure the member that where applicants are knowingly making declarations that are inversely related to the truth be it on their heads. The full force of the administration will be brought down under the Immigration Act for such wrongdoing. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Is the Minister telling this House that until the applications for residency of this couple Jane Loveday and Richard Vosper are considered by his department he is happy for Vosper to continue working under a work permit in New Zealand with mentally ill children in the Blenheim district—children who are very vulnerable—when he has proven to have exploited vulnerable women who have suffered from rape attacks; is he saying he is happy for that work permit to continue when someone is working under that circumstance? 
Hon SHANE JONES 
: A number of allegations have been made in relation to the man the member is talking about and an investigation was undertaken of his spouse a lawyer. I point out that those are rumours and allegations but as I have said officials are raking over the declarations the pair have made. So I will leave it with the officials to make the appropriate decision which I am sure may very well be “Haere Ra!”. 
Peter Brown 
: I am referring back to the case I referred to Minister— 
Hon Members 
: What’s the question? 
Peter Brown 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I waited in courtesy for Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith to finish his issue because I thought that it was important he got a clear run at the thing. He subsequently came up with another question after I had started. Madam Speaker you saw that I waited for the thing. Now out of courtesy I would like National members to shut up and listen to this— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Yes—well one can understand all members’ frustrations at being constantly interrupted and not being heard but we will moderate our language. [ 
Interruption 
] We will have the member’s question in silence. If there is any interruption the member responsible will be asked to leave the Chamber. 
Peter Brown 
: Does the Minister consider it appropriate for the same man after he allegedly attacked his wife again twice to remain here by being on a 2-year visa sponsored by his employer; if he does think that that is appropriate can he advise the House what the dickens one has to do to get kicked out of this country? 
Hon SHANE JONES 
: Rest assured; I will not be tempted! Obviously I do not have in front of me the exact details of the case the member refers to but I encourage him to make information available to our officials. No one wants to see anyone undermining the system and staying when there are many deserving people who ought to be here and who want to come here.