ZB ZB
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Kiwi dad born overseas explains 'red tape' preventing his kids from getting citizenship

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 14 Aug 2025, 5:03pm
Photo / File
Photo / File

Kiwi dad born overseas explains 'red tape' preventing his kids from getting citizenship

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 14 Aug 2025, 5:03pm

He’s descended from a Treaty signatory, an All Black and the ‘Voice of New Zealand’, but John Bryers Ruddock can't get his kids New Zealand citizenship - so he's taking legal action.

John himself was born overseas and was dismayed to discover there was no easy way to secure Kiwi citizenship for his US-born children, in part because he was born offshore.

He says it would have been easier to get approved if he was coming in as a migrant - and it feels 'unconstitutional'.

"Because I'm not on a visa or applying for a visa myself, they all get charged individually. So normally, say, if I had 20 kids and I was here on a visa or applying for my residence visa, it would cost me $3200 for being all my dependent children. But because I'm a citizen and not on a visa, they charge them individually."

LISTEN ABOVE

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you