By HELEN TUNNAH
Immigration officials are preparing an urgent report for the Government to explain why Pacific Islanders have been targeted in a policy asking some women to have pregnancy tests if they want to come here.
Immigration Minister Paul Swain said he expected officials to explain early next week how a
policy imposing pregnancy checks on some would-be visitors was being applied.
He confirmed yesterday that Pacific Island women were the focus of the policy.
That has alarmed Labour's Samoan MP Winnie Laban, who chaired the foreign affairs committee this week which heard that the tests had upset Tongan community leaders.
"Clearly people were very passionate about it," she said yesterday.
"I've informed the minister's office. It is a worry if the primary focus is on Pacific women."
The policy was introduced last year in response to reports that increasing numbers of women from all countries were able to access free health care if they had a baby in New Zealand. As well, anyone born here is automatically granted citizenship.
The publicity centred on "maternity packages" being offered in some countries and an increase in the numbers of Asian women travelling here to have babies.
Health Minister Annette King closed a legal loophole, which means non-resident women may be charged for the costs of child birth.
No figures were available yesterday from the Ministry of Health or the Immigration Service on the numbers of non-resident women who gave birth here and where they came from.
Mr Swain said the officials would go back to Pacific posts to check how the policy on the tests, which were not compulsory, was being interpreted.
Herald Feature: Immigration
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