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Australia grants Tyson visa

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Australia grants Tyson visa

3News NZ

Mike Tyson (file)

Mike Tyson (file)

As New Zealand mulls whether or not to let him in, Australia has granted controversial former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson a visa to visit next month.

The promoter of the motivational speaking event announced Tyson, who has been jailed in the US for rape, had been successful with his Australian visa application on Wednesday.

"We are thrilled and are very grateful to the Australian government for granting Mike Tyson a visa and allowing him to visit Australia for the very first time" said Markson Sparks! chief executive Max Markson.

They were now "patiently waiting" for the New Zealand government to decide whether or not Tyson will be allowed to visit Auckland on November 15, ahead of his five-centre Australian "The Day of the Champions" visit.

Tyson was originally granted a special visa to visit New Zealand but that was withdrawn when it was revealed his support from a children's charity had only come from a sole trustee acting off their own bat.

Tyson, this time with the support of broadcaster Willie Jackson and the Manukau Urban Maori Authority, has applied for a visa for the second time, despite opposition from women's groups.

Associate Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson this week said she had received the application but had not yet made a decision.

Tyson, a ferocious fighter described as "the baddest man on the planet", became the world's youngest heavyweight boxing champion in 1988. But in 1992 he was sentenced to six years' jail for the rape of an 18-year-old woman in the US.

New Zealand immigration laws stipulate that no one who has been sentenced to five years or more can be given a visa unless they are given special dispensation.

During a New Zealand television interview promoting The Day of the Champions, Tyson denied raping the woman.

NZN

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Comments

11/10/2012 10:13:46 a.m.

john wrote:

@MATT J

Should we refuse entry to Obama?.
He did break the US constitutional laws! (more than 800 laws broken) or how about julia gillard?

It's clear kiwis have little knowledge of the corrupt under there nose. if anything Tyson will promote NZ desperate tourism sector.

11/10/2012 12:32:29 a.m.

Matt J wrote:

Well done to NZ for refusing Tyson a visa. He was convicted for a serious indictable offence. Same rules apply to anyone else and would be refused entry on the same grounds. So what if hes a sports personality? I couldn't care less. So what if he's claimed to have turned his life around? - why should he get special dispensation for being a celeb? He's no role model. Keep him away from NZ.

10/10/2012 11:39:22 p.m.

Gary wrote:

@K can you give some examples? And not the past I mean recent/now. Otherwise your comment is pointless it is just to satisfy your selfish belief.

10/10/2012 10:04:59 p.m.

james wrote:

Granting Tyson a visa irritates the heck out of me - not because it lets him into the country - but because others who have committed lesser crimes and turned their lives around cannot get the same treatment. Lets face it, if not for his athletic achievement, he'd been toast if he applied for a visa. From a personal perspective, I cannot understand Willie Jackson subconsciously considering himself a poorer role model than Tyson. I believe he's better than that.

10/10/2012 9:33:14 p.m.

K wrote:

A post on The Hand Mirror shows that despite many years since his conviction, Tyson displays disturbing attitudes towards all women. Granting a visa would be unacceptable.

10/10/2012 8:21:28 p.m.

Jim Seaview wrote:

QUOTE: "Tyson, this time with the support of broadcaster Willie Jackson and the Manukau Urban Maori Authority, has applied for a visa for the second time, despite opposition from women's groups" GOOD ON YOU Willie Jackson for inviting Mike Tyson to NZ and to let him speak in Auckland. Mike Tyson was convicted 20 years ago, has been to prison for his sentence and has since turned his life around. He has been granted entry to almost every other country in the world for speaking engagements trying to help people. Good move Mr Jackson.