The National Party is calling for the government to be more upfront about what's happening with Behrouz Boochani, a Kurdish refugee and author who arrived here last November and may now be seeking asylum. Boochani arrived in Christchurch after being granted a visitor visa to attend a literary festival — it is understood he is still in New Zealand. There was no justification for using a visitor visa to get to New Zealand in order to then seek asylum, Smith said. Meg De Ronde/Not-For-Syndication Behrouz Boochani arrived in New Zealand last November and it is understood he is still here. “Asylum claims are very sensitive in nature and are often made because the individual has a fear of persecution in their country or otherwise fear returning there.

Source: Stuff May 03, 2020 20:48 UTC