Mike Tyson's visa cancelled

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Mike Tyson's visa cancelled

3News NZ

Mike Tyson was due to headline a motivational speaking night in Auckland in November (file)

Mike Tyson was due to headline a motivational speaking night in Auckland in November (file)

By Dan Satherley

Former boxer Mike Tyson's visa application to enter New Zealand has been cancelled.

Associate Minister of Immigration Kate Wilkinson decided to deny Tyson entry to New Zealand after it emerged a letter in support of his visit from a charity was sent in error.

Tyson, who has prior convictions for rape and assault, was due to headline a motivational speaking night in Auckland in November.

Life Education Trust NZ, which provides educational resources for over 200,000 children a year, says it was approached in August by the event's promoters.

Chief executive John O'Connell says they were offered the chance to be the beneficiary of a charity auction associated with the event.

"The promoter came to us, the board discussed it, we made a decision to decline it, and I advised the promoter of that, that same day" Mr O'Connell told 3 News.

Yesterday the trust discovered a letter of support had been sent to Immigration on behalf of the organisation by a “volunteer trustee”. A spokesperson for Ms Wilkinson said the letter had in fact come from a board member – which is why the minister approved Tyson’s application.

"They had sought the opportunity for one of our local trusts as part of their fundraising activity," says Mr O'Connell.

Ms Wilkinson granted a 'special direction', meaning Tyson's convictions did not matter.

Under New Zealand law, a person with a prior conviction with a sentence of five or more years in prison cannot be granted a visa without a special direction from the Minister of Immigration or Associate Minister.

Mr O'Connell said there is no way Life Education Trust would back the notorious former heavyweight champion, who was once disqualified for biting an opponent's ear.

"What I have at the moment is someone saying, 'You did,' and I'm going, 'Well, no, we didn't.' I think I know what I did and didn't do... Like anything, you always see if your brand fits, and that's not something we wanted our organisation involved with."

Mr O'Connell says Immigration sent him an email apologising for the mistake yesterday afternoon.

"This is a matter which the Life Education Trust takes very seriously and we have worked with Immigration officials to have the letter of support withdrawn," says Mr O'Connell.

"We are now undertaking our own internal process to address what has transpired."

Yesterday Prime Minister John Key said allowing Tyson into New Zealand was a "line-ball call".

Tyson responded by saying: "Fortunately, I am coming to New Zealand and there's nothing they can do about it and I'm so sorry, I'm sorry they feel disappointed and I'm just living my life."

Tyson has a Maori-inspired tattoo on his face, but has never been to New Zealand before. Tickets for his show cost up to $395.

3 News

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Comments

10/10/2012 5:50:21 p.m.

Tallica1 wrote:

@FAIR KIWI - awwww it's a big conspiracy by our government is it? LOL

5/10/2012 5:59:02 p.m.

crazy wrote:

have you actually seen what kind of a man he has become? he is a far better person than when he did thoes things, and i think to just say that he is a criminal for life is childish and implies that the system you support, will fail which makes our lives a waste of time... lol i feel sorry for u guys.

3/10/2012 8:52:57 p.m.

jan.. wrote:

My apology Dyson but we cannot accept rappist in to our country, you spoiled your only chance to visit New Zealand and other countries, have a safe journey home and obey the law, Pal..

3/10/2012 6:55:40 p.m.

Fair Kiwi wrote:

Wake up people. This is another John Key stunt trying to hide the Kim Dot Com affair. He's tying to convince us he's not SUCKING up to the yanks by banning Tyson.

3/10/2012 4:58:18 p.m.

Mike wrote:

If you make an application, better get it right.

What we have is a mis-representation and Tysons visa revoked on that.

NZrs with criminal records need to follow the same rules when applying for a visa overseas.

That includes the criminal records that many selectively forget to declare because they feel that they were unimportant. Eg its now standard for many countries to do a full search on applicants, and if they find a criminal conviction that wasn't declared, may have some police waiting for you when you arrive. By a conviction, that includes any crime that could see jail time, including careless driving and drunk driving even decades ago. For some countries, even no jail time served and a conviction that could have imposed jail time is enough to require declaring.

$395 a head. Must be those below the poverty line who need the motovational speech ... hence the charity.

3/10/2012 1:54:36 p.m.

Tony wrote:

Poor old Mike, he obviously doesn't drink tea or make donation's ?

3/10/2012 12:38:37 p.m.

Kooroc wrote:

Someone finally came to their senses. No support here for rapists.

3/10/2012 12:05:25 p.m.

Ruz wrote:

I can't see why Tyson can't come to New Zealand. His rape crime was in 1982 and he served time in prison for this crime. There is little risk of him offending in NZ so he presence should not be a problem.

3/10/2012 11:19:31 a.m.

Jonno wrote:

I think whats happend is, on his tv 1 interview ysterday morn , he swore, using the "F" word. Now, ive got a feeling ,thats gone and stuffed things up for him.

3/10/2012 11:09:57 a.m.

Nzy wrote:

Yesterday Prime Minister John Key said allowing Tyson into New Zealand was a "line-ball call". Key just can't get it right can he...he has the staff numbers to research all such issues Out of the kitchen today... off to LA ...will avoid all those nasty questioners.