News from NZ Government
Mike Tyson’s visa to visit Auckland has been cancelled by Associate Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson today.

Ms Wilkinson says the original decision to grant a Special Direction to Mr Tyson was a finely balanced call and a letter of support from the Life Education Trust, that would have been a benefactor from the visit, was a significant factor in approving the application.

“Yesterday evening the Life Education Trust contacted my office and asked for that letter to be withdrawn, making it clear that the Trust no longer wants to have any involvement with Mr Tyson’s visit.

“Given that the Trust is no longer supporting the event, on balance, I have made the decision to cancel his visa to enter New Zealand for the Day of the Champions event in Auckland.”

News from NZ Labour Party
The Immigration Minister’s sudden flip-flop over the Mike Tyson visa is just another fiasco and an example of how this Government has taken its eye off the ball, says Labour’s Immigration Spokesperson Darien Fenton.

“Kate Wilkinson’s handling of this case has been utterly hopeless. She’s simply not up to the job.

“First she granted Mike Tyson a special exemption despite his conviction for rape because he supposedly had the support of the Life Education Trust. Then it turns out she never actually checked the validity of that support which had come from a volunteer, not the agency’s board.

“That is sloppy and embarrassing not only for the Government but for our reputation internationally when visas are granted on dodgy grounds and then suddenly revoked.

“The Prime Minister is no better. The issue of whether Mike Tyson should be granted a visa has been in the media for weeks, yet obviously there was no communication with between John Key and his Minister until it became public.

“The Government’s political management is just shoddy at the moment. It is not paying attention to the issues that matter. New Zealanders expect better,” said Darien Fenton.