Opinion: Sex offender should be deported

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It's not okay for a foreign convicted sex offender to remain in New Zealand after his release from prison.

In a decision that clearly embarrassed the Government, an Immigration New Zealand official acting under delegated authority, decided Afghanistan-born Sultan Ali Abdul Ali Akbari can stay in the country as long as he doesn't reoffend within five years.

He arrived in New Zealand in 2012 and within six months assaulted a woman and was convicted. He continued to offend on five occasions while awaiting trial. Indecent acts on girls aged 8 and 10 and indecently assaulting an 18-year-old.

While in prison, apparently because of language problems, he didn't take part in any of the programmes that might have helped him see how wrong and disgusting his behaviour was. And that he needed to make the effort to change.

Locking someone away for a few years is a big fat waste of time if not accompanied by supportive programmes. The offender gains useful insight into his inappropriate behaviour and he gets the tools to enable change. If an offender leaves prison without having confronted this challenge then there is every likelihood he will reoffend. Unfortunately young girls and women are being set up to be the next victims.

I think Immigration NZ's decision is wrong. It runs contrary to the excellent work the Government has done to try to reduce offending against women and children, particularly domestic violence and sexual harm. Awareness raising, public education and early interventions are all actions the Government has encouraged and supported.

The Ministers of Police and Justice have targeted resources into areas that will make a difference. They have stated they want our streets and homes to be safe and that young girls and women should not have to be afraid. The Government has been prepared to have hard conversations and attempted to match their words with action. And the public needs to know that sexual offending is being taken seriously. God knows we have a lot of ground to make up in this disgraceful area.

In my view this sexual offender from Afghanistan, aged 58, and obviously with many years of learned behaviour, should have been subject to a removal order to be deported when released from prison in February. We didn't know then that he had been paroled with conditions until September. Now that we do we should ask the Minister of Immigration to review his official's decision and seek a removal order. We should not have to settle for anything less.

I don't care that he might be returning to a dangerous situation in his own country. That his human rights might be violated. He should have thought about that before he committed his offences here; the violation of young girls and their human rights.

Perhaps in his country sexually harming girls and women may be tolerated. It should have been made clear when he first offended that "you offend again and you're gone". No ifs no buts. New Zealand owes this man nothing. But we owe it to ourselves to ensure that we limit the potential for harm to all our citizens. And upholding the mana of our girls and women is paramount.

Ultimately it is the Government that needs to take the lead in ensuring sexual offences are not tolerated in our country. That when necessary they are prepared to make the hard calls. In my view the decision made by Immigration NZ fell well and truly short of public expectation.

Merepeka lives in Rotorua. She writes, speaks and broadcasts to thwart the spread of political correctness.