I don’t like it
March 29th, 2004 at 6:47 am by David FarrarThe more I think about the proposal to allow the Government to confiscate passports from NZ citizens, the more I don’t like it.
I regard a passport as a fundamental right of any citizen, because it allows people to leave a country – also a fundamental right (if not charged with a crime).
If there are genuine security fears about a NZ citizen, then the SIS can share its concerns with overseas agencies, and individual countries can decide whether or not to allow that person to visit. But the notion of NZ citizens who have not been convicted of any crime losing their passports at the discretion of a Minister is dangerous. I would need a huge amount of convincing on why this should be supported, or is needed.
On the citizenship issues, I am somewhat favourable. I think there is some merit in not having NZ citizenship automatically given to children born here, if *neither* parent is a NZer. The status quo provides a huge incentive to people to become illegal overstayers and have kids in NZ, and this is being abused a lot. Also if two German tourists (for example) happen to have a baby while holidaying here, it is hard to see why their child is a NZer.
It is essential though that no child ever be born stateless, so NZ citizenship should only be with-held if one is 100% sure that the child will have citizenship in another country.
No tag for this post.
March 29th, 2004 at 12:46 pm
New Zealand law already has a clause stating that a child born will receive New Zealand citizenship if they would otherwise be stateless.
Millsy
Vote:March 29th, 2004 at 1:38 pm
I totally agree with David. A New Zealand passport is a fundamental right, and as such the government should only make legislative moves to protect, and not threaten, that right. I haven’t seen the government’s plans, but they sound fishy enough to warrant a closer look! In saying that, I also wonder where the pressure
Vote:March 29th, 2004 at 2:27 pm
And Millsy knows what he is on about when it comes to passports, citizenship, bere and Tui couches. Two of those because he used to work for Internal Affairs!
Vote:March 29th, 2004 at 4:21 pm
Rob –
Nah, if you’re looking for a conspiracy try a lot closer to home: The Government seems to go through occasional spasms of ‘getting tough’ on immigration and terrorism, at least when the focus groups get sceptic. The awful thing is that there are some pretty sensible ideas here under a thick crust of bovine excrement – and it gets hard to give the Labs credit where credit’s due, when you also find yourself agreeing with the Greens.
Vote:March 29th, 2004 at 7:06 pm
Unfortunately I think we need the Goverment to be able to do that, the potential ramifications of having a known terrorist being able to move around with a New Zealand passport are horrific.
But I do think that it is such a serious thing, that the safeguards that need putting in place must be as strong as is possible to avoid any abuse of this.
One thing I did notice was this “Removes any advantage to foreign spouses of New Zealand citizens in gaining citizenship.” What does that mean ??
Nigel
Vote:March 29th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
If you’re the wife of an immigrant who gains citizenship, you’re not guaranteed citizenship yourself. I suppose you’d only then be able to enter on a temporary resident status, before applying for residency.
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