New Zealand PM Challenged Over The Claims of Refugee Intake By Green Party

The Green Party of New Zealand has challenged Prime Minister John Key over his claim of accepting thousands of refugees each year. This morning Mr. Key stated that New Zealand has allowed more than 750 refugees to settle in the country, hence, exceeding the annual quota set since the end of World War II. As per Mr. Key, over 3000 to 4000 refugees are allowed every year.

However, Green MP Denise Roche and other party members challenged this claim and expressed an interest to increase the annual quota to 1000. According to him, a document provided to the Parliament showed that only 1153 refugees were allowed in the financial year of 2013/14 which included 750 refugees accepted as part of the quota, 334 under family reunification, and 69 asylum seekers. He made a statement saying, “unless John Key can front with the breakdown of numbers, it would seem he is willing to be convenient with the truth to support his line.”

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse also proposed about amendments that would increase the annual quota of the refugees. He further stated that financial assistance, housing and language support programmes have been provided to the family reunification groups. He believed that contradictions emerged on the question whether an increase in the quota would amount to degradation of the country. Mr. Key insisted that an annual quota of 750 was good enough keeping domestic interests in mind.

According to the New Zealand Herald, asylum seeking boat that had gone to Australia only to be returned might be for New Zealand and has for same appealed to the government for help. However, John Key denied having any such information. Mr. Key told Paul Henry this morning that, "once a boat gets in your territorial waters, there is nothing you can do" and the called the actions of the people smuggler “abhorrent”. However, he refused to make further comments on the issue.

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