Visit of a foreign citizen coming into the country with hate speech
Sam Malik made this Official Information request to Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for Sam Malik to read a recent response and update the status.
From: Sam Malik
Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,
Can you please advise if the US citizen who’s organised Pro-Khalistani rallies in Auckland and Wellington was checked for his history of spreading hate speech and violence. If not then why not?
Why didn’t Immigration took enough measures against this person when he disrupted traffic in major cities and used slogans against other communities.
Please provide the evidence, if any, if the Ministry was satisfied by this person of a peaceful “visit”?
Please note that this is concerning as I am part of the community who been threatened by supporters of this person and in future there’s a real risk on Law & Order like it happened in Toronto. Our safety is our right and if any banned person who’s being treated as a terrorist in other countries enters our space, we don’t appreciate it.
Yours faithfully,
Sam Malik
From: NoReplyMinisterialServices
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Kia ora Sam Malik,
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 6/11/2024 requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982, the following:
Can you please advise if the US citizen who’s organised Pro-Khalistani
rallies in Auckland and Wellington was checked for his history of
spreading hate speech and violence. If not then why not?
Why didn’t Immigration took enough measures against this person when he
disrupted traffic in major cities and used slogans against other
communities.
Please provide the evidence, if any, if the Ministry was satisfied by this
person of a peaceful “visit”?
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 4/12/2024, being 20 working days after the day your request was
received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe. If you have any enquiries
regarding your request feel free to contact us via email to
[1][MBIE request email].
Nâku noa, nâ
Ministerial Services
Corporate Services, Finance & Enablement
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140
References
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1. mailto:[MBIE request email]
From: INZ OIAs
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Kia ora Sam,
Thank you for your email of 6 November 2024 to the Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment (MBIE) requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:
Can you please advise if the US citizen who’s organised Pro-Khalistani
rallies in Auckland and Wellington was checked for his history of
spreading hate speech and violence. If not then why not?
Why didn’t Immigration took enough measures against this person when he
disrupted traffic in major cities and used slogans against other
communities.
Please provide the evidence, if any, if the Ministry was satisfied by this
person of a peaceful “visit”?
Before we proceed with your request, we ask that you please provide a name
of the individual in question.
Please respond to this email by Friday 22 November 2024.
Nâku noa, nâ
Izla
MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473, Wellington 6140
From: Sam Malik
Dear INZ OIA/ Izla,
While I want to respect the privacy as per privacy act, the name that has been in news as well is Mr. A V Pannun and his associates from US and Canada.
The video that went viral from Auckland Aotea Centre caught him using slogans like “kill modi” which I don’t believe is considered a peaceful protest as per freedom of speech law. This is about killing somebody which obviously is matter of violence that can spread over to other people too that belong to the same ethnicity. I believe this is an issue for MFAT and MBIE who was unable to restrict this US - Canadian Citizen spreading hate and voilence.
I don’t believe this should be taken light. How would NZ react is something residing in NZ temporarily encouraging people to kill the NZ PM.
This is a real safety issue for our communities in NZ. We are peaceful and would want to stay that way.
Yours sincerely,
Sam Malik
From: INZ OIAs
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Kia ora Sam,
Please see attached the extension letter for your request under the
Official Information Act.
Nāku noa, nā
Izla
MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473, Wellington 6140
From: INZ OIAs
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Kia ora Sam
Please find attached the response to your Official Information Act
request.
Ngā mihi,
Alex
MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Immigration New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473 Wellington 6140
NZBN 9429000106078
[1]http://thelink/how/PublishingImages/MBIE...
References
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From: Sam Malik
Dear INZ OIAs,
Before I reach out to the Ombudsman, I would like INZ to reconsider your reply and advise an updated reply to my 2 questions.
My request has been refused under “privacy” whereas I do not ask for any of their private info but info that is held my INZ on the visit. As an NZ Citizen, I am concerned about my own as well as my whanau safety in case anyone with such hate and slogans of “killing” someone is allowed to enter the country. We already have one Destiny Church and can’t afford to have another.
Again, I want to know what process was followed for this person and I know the OIA act - it does not contradicts someones privacy.
Second is about safety measures taken in case this person leads a rally against a specific community. Again all about NZ safety and nothing about their private info. Where their personal info is mentioned, that can be redacted.
Yours sincerely,
Sam Malik
From: INZ OIAs
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Kia ora Sam,
Thank you for raising your concerns below.
As outlined in our response letter, we do not consider that there are any overriding public interest reasons that support the release of the information requested under section 9 of the OIA. In respect of the information being refused under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA, we have taken into account s9(1) of the OIA, and we do not consider that there are any overriding public interest reasons that support the release of that information. All visa applicants must meet specific requirements, including a good character assessment that considers factors such as criminal convictions, deportation history, and potential risks to New Zealand's security, public order, or public interest.
If you wish to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision, information about how to make a complaint is available at https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/ or freephone 0800 802 602.
Nâku noa, nâ
INZ OIAs
MINISTERIAL SERVICES
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473, Wellington 6140
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