Bobby Brown. Photo / Reuters
Bad boy American singer Bobby Brown will face character checks before being let into the country.
Brown has been in trouble with the law in the past, including battery charges against his former wife, singer and actress Whitney Houston, as well as drug charges.
He is set to
perform two concerts here but some are questioning whether he should be kept out of the country, given his rocky past.
Due to perform in Rotorua on July 15 and in Auckland two days later, Brown has yet to apply for a visa and Department of Labour group manager for border security Api Fiso said the singer would have to apply for a work visa, like all musical entertainers wanting to work here.
Brown's representative had been told the singer had to apply for a work visa prior to coming. "This application should be lodged as soon as possible in order to be considered," Mr Fiso said.
"As with all visa applications, the applicant must meet the standard entry requirements including health and character requirements."
Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick has raised Brown's proposed trip with Immigration Minister David Cunliffe, after being approached by community paper Rotorua Review.
The paper, which has posted a report on the Stuff website, said anyone with Brown's background should not be allowed into the country.
It questioned why the singer should be allowed in when "relatively minor indiscretions" would stop anyone entering the United States.
Ms Chadwick said it was not up to her to judge but she had put the case to the minister.
"I heard from David Cunliffe that no visa application has been received, so that's quite interesting given that the concert isn't far away."
The Immigration Service confirmed no visa application has been received from Brown.
The Rotorua Review said tickets for the concert there went on sale last week at $54 each.
- NZPA
