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Immigration Minister says criminal granted residency can contribute to society

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 16 Oct 2019, 9:59AM
Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway.

Immigration Minister says criminal granted residency can contribute to society

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 16 Oct 2019, 9:59AM

The Immigration Minister says a convicted drink-driver who has been granted residency needs the opportunity to contribute to the country.

Iain Lees-Galloway says a treaty protecting against torture stopped the "protected person" being deported.

National gave the person a rolling temporary work visa, when it was in government.

Lees-Galloway told Mike Hosking the rolling visas are pointless, because the man can't be sent home anyway.

He says the rolling visas caused unnecessary bureaucratic burden, so he's been given residency.

“If we want someone to be able to settle well in New Zealand and not be a threat to public safety, we need to give them the opportunity to work and contribute to society."

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