New Zealand Rejects 130-Kg South African Chef for Being Too Heavy (VIDEOS)

Albert Buitenhuis, a South African chef who migrated to New Zealand six years ago, is facing deportation because of his weight of 130 kilogrammees. Mr Buitenhuis applied for the renewal of his work visa but his application was rejected because he is too fat.

In turning down his application, Immigration New Zealand explained that the chef being obese could strain further the country's health services, basing the decision on findings of medical assessors that the chef no longer had an acceptable standard of health.

However, Marthie, the chef's wife, pointed out that the chief actually weighed less now compared to the time they were accepted by New Zealand when he wa 160 kg.

"We applied for year after year and there were no issues. They never mentioned Albert's weight or his health once and he was a lot heavier then ... The irony is that at the moment he weighs less than when we first arrived in New Zealand and also less than in his first medical, which was accepted by INZ," AFP quoted Mrs Buitenhuis.

She added her husband's heft has not prevented him from working 40 hours a week in a Christchurch kitchen. Despite her protest that he has lost weight, at his height of 5' 10" and body mass index of 40, the chef is still considered clinically obese.

In response, INZ explained "It is important that all migrants have an acceptable standard of health to minimize costs and demands on New Zealand's health services," pointing out that the chef is at significant risk of complications such as diabetes, hypertension, heart ailment and obstructive sleep apnoea.

The chef has a knee injury that could cost up to $20,000 to replace, although it is not clear yet if the injury is linked to his weight problem.

INZ probably wants one less obese person after it landed third on the OECD report of obesity rates, next to the U.S. and Mexico.

The couple's doctor said he could lower the cholesterol and blood level of the obese chef to acceptable level within 26 weeks. The pair had appealed their case to New Zealand Associate Minister of Immigration Nikki Kaye.