A new law allowing the detention of asylum seekers for six months was passed by the New Zealand parliament on Thursday.

With 63 votes to 53, the Immigration Amendment Bill passed its third reading and now legalises detention of asylum seekers for half a year. Covered by the law are those arriving in groups of at least 30 people, and they will be issued a single warrant effective for six months.

The law provides for the extension of detention period for another 28 days, which a judge will decide until applications are completely processed.

This is Wellington's preventive solution to the possible surge of boat migrants on the shores of New Zealand.

The Immigration department thinks it is an auspicious decision to pass the law as this will help the system and the courts manage mass arrivals. Without it, the government agencies will be overwhelmed, according to Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse. He said it is best for New Zealand to anticipate and be ready at this point.

"It (mass arrivals) will happen, and when it does this bill will ensure we can effectively manage it," Mr. Woodrose said during the third reading.

According to Mr. Woodrose, concerned government agencies will probe on the backgrounds of asylum seekers, verify their identity and process refugee applications.

Meanwhile, the law has been received negatively by Amnesty International saying that it is violating New Zealand's "international commitments under the Refugee Convention and human rights law."

"It is extremely disappointing to see that the government has pushed forward with this law despite strong criticism from both the New Zealand public and the international community," Amnesty International executive director Grant Bayldon said.

He said that detention can only cast further damage to people who have already experienced enough difficulty and torture. It is "important that detention is used only as a last resort and not on mass in an effort to deter people smugglers," he said.

Also, opposition Labour and Green parties expressed their disapproval saying that it is a drastic reaction to an obvious hypothetical problem. They say it is an over-reaction to something that is not even there yet.

Mr. Woodroose, however, rejects the opposition's opinion. "Recent experience has shown that we are a target for people smugglers and we can't afford to be complacent," he said.

It will be recalled that in April this year, a fishing boat with 66 Sri Lankan asylum seekers had reached the shores of Western Australia.

They were seen holding up signs expressing their intention to go to New Zealand. Even Australian authorities attested that the group's intended destination was indeed New Zealand.

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