Second Tyson visa application declined
"I tend to agree with the Aussies that the risk of his reoffending is small so why not grant him a short-term visa."
Featured commentAssociate Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson has for a second time declined to grant a visa that would allow former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson to enter New Zealand.
“The original decision in respect of Mr Tyson was a finely balanced call based on the letter of support from a board member of the Life Education Trust,” Ms Wilkinson says.
“When the trust withdrew its support I received another application from Mr Tyson’s representatives with the support of the Manukau Urban Maori Authority.
“This new application was not enough to get the application over the line and, as such, I have declined to grant Mr Tyson a new visa under the Immigration Act 2009.
“I have nothing more to add and therefore will not be making any further comment on this matter,” she says.
Mike Tyson is also a convicted rapist.
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Comments and questions15
Without getting into the debate of whether he was guilty or not (and my personal view was he wasn't) how does this situation differ from the convicted murderer of the Memphis 3 who was a guest of Sir Peter Jackson in New Zealand recently ? How was he granted a visa ?
Because each case is taken on the evidence presented to immigration. Without getting into the ins and outs of the Memphis 3 case it is my understanding that they were released from prison after entering a 'guilty' plea which basically means they can't sue for (any future proof of) wrongful imprisonment. Consequently they have not been exonerated of a crime, so Damien Echols has to apply each time to enter NZ with letters of support and is, apparently, interviewed each time he enters. Personally I think the cases are vastly different in terms of evidence of character but the granting of visas is not my call.
Thanks for that. Your understaning of the Memphis 3 case is the same as mine that is why I couldn't reconcile the visa decisions other than the connections. I agree that at various points in his life Tyson has been the baddest man on the planet but of recent times I think he has turned his life around and does have a lot to give back to people through his experiences. I have no idea of the criteria on granting a visa but for the few days he is here I tend to agree with the Aussies that the risk of his reoffending is small so why not grant him a short-term visa.
Pulling strings....strings made of money that is
Historically New Zealand has opted for a 'fair play' approach to justice with a distinct hostility to 'mates based' justice. This government openly abuses that heritage.
Young urban Maori do NOT need a convicted rapist with a stroppy, petulant, the-world-owes-me-something "wanna-be" attitude and ego the size of Hone's.
These young people would be much better taking Maggie Barry as a role model - then they can learn how to grow fresh fruit and vege's to help feed themselves and the starving, malnourished other youth in their community.
A convicted fighter/rapist being held up as a "role model" - the idea could only come from someone's whose sense of reality must have been wharped syphoning off too much petrol, or from using solvents in an enclosed, small space without ventilation for a few month's.
By "convicted fighter" do you mean "heavyweight champion of the world". I'm not sure that Tyson was ever locked up for fighting ?
He was (1999 Maryland, for taking out two motorists, jail sentence originally 4 years, then down to a year, (he attacked them)and disqualified from fighting for over a year. 2009 on an assault charge for punching a man in the head (man hospitalised) Tyson taken to South Los Angeles POlice station, (under arrest)....eventually out on bail bond.
This has nothing to do with Mike Tyson. It has everything to do with the fact that Kate Wilkinson is a political lightweight who got rapped over the knuckles by John Key the first time for allowing him in, and wasn't keen to incur his wrath a second.
You nailed it. And Tyson put the icing on the cake by taunting Key, saying there was nothing he could do about his coming to NZ.
We need to realise, that the PM sees NZ as his fiefdom.
How many rapists, swindlers, thugs and former inmates come here on holiday every year?
Well for better or for worse, Kate Wilkinson is developing a reputation as the Minister for Declined, and Not Approved in immigration matters. Is she being fair? I'll leave that for you to decide.
I don't see a problem here, why should we let him in? The is no way a Kiwi with a rape conviction would be allowed into America, so he should not be allowed here. No matter how long ago or who he is .
Facts...re Tyson - he was convicted, fact 1999 back in jail, fact 2003 bankrupt, fact 2007, back in Arizona Court on cocaine possession (didn't deny that one), 2009 up on assault, in jail Los Angeles. What else do you need? Read Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, New York papers for verification - Court transcripts are also on Boxing sites.
Strange. Here we have killers and rapists who can easily come out after serving a brief period in jail because our judges think they are safe to be released into the community. Yet we bar a convicted criminal for life from entering countries because we think they are dangerous.