Deportation error a 'one-off' says Minister

11.10.2000 10:30 AM The Immigration Minister says a computer data entry problem caused a Filipino family to be wrongly deported under New Zealand's tough new immigration laws.

The family of four was taken from their Auckland home by Immigration Services early yesterday and put onto a plane to Kuala Lumpur. The family's immigration consultant contacted the Immigration Service while his clients were in the air, pointing out that two of the family had lodged appeals, and were entitled to stay while the appeals were processed.

The family has been in New Zealand for three years. Both parents have jobs and the two children attend school.

Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel says their appeals had not been entered in the computer system properly. She is sticking by the new law, saying the problem was a one-off.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=154871&thesection=news&thesubsection=general

-- Doris (reaper@pacifier.com), October 11, 2000