VISA FIASCO - Email & Letter Campaign
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All Whites, Ferns, and other international teams
VISA FIASCO - Email & Letter Campaign
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WE NEED EVERYONE WRITING LETTERS AND EMAILS
WHY?
This visa fiasco has the potential to cripple NZ Football financially and affect your club subs, looks to have already lost us 1 AW home fixture, could cost us 3 WC qualification points and is jeopardising our right to host FIFA Women's U17 tournament next year.
Having sanctions is any country's right. But the intention of sanctions is to punish the offending country, not yourself. NZ Football should not have to pay for a poorly designed sanction policy that hurst us, not Fiji.
A lot of people are bloomin grumpy about this. Great letter from Greenie in the Dom Post today. Great story on TV3 last night. Great to see Peter Dunne backing football. Great that many others have been writing to the media and to MPs.
HOW?
We will be most effective if we target the right people and have a relatively consistent message.
So, I encourage people to write to Trevor Mallard as Minister for Sport and David Cunliffe and Minister for Immigration. You might try writing to Winston as well, although his position is somewhat entrenched, whereas the others still have an opportunity to make themselves the heroes.
Email addresses for those two Ministers are:
If you want to write a letter, go for it. You just need to address it to those Ministers, Parliament Buildings, Wellington and it will get there. No harm in sending letters and emails to others, including Opposition MPs. Go for it, more the merrier - but include Cunliffe and Mallard.
WHAT?
Write what you feel strongly about or what aggravates you, but useful to try get across something including the following:
1.) the financial impact on NZ Football (which might end up coming out of your club subs)
2.) the loss of the AW's home fixture against Fiji
3.) the potential (if unlikely) loss of 3 WC points
4.) the potential loss of the U17 Women's World Cup
5.) Whatever the intent of this sanction, its effect in this case has been to punish NZ rather than Fiji. That does not make sense and needs to be put right.
Its also important we are clear what we are asking the Government to do. I suggest:
1.) reimbursement for NZ Football for costs and losses incurred through this messed up visa policy
2.) the visa situation to be fixed so that we can a.) play Fiji at home and b.) dont lose any other Fifa matches or tournaments.
Go forth and get angry!
Marius Lacatus2007-10-20 21:27:38
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There's quite a bit of discussion under these threads (and
more)
Marius Lacatus2007-10-20 20:01:13
and the online petition at
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Mallard, Minister for Sport & Recreation, can also be
emailed at
mailto:Ministerial.Office.of.Hon.Trevor.Mallard@ministers.govt.nz
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
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Just don't call him a hypocrite. You might get the bash.
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id imagine its now clayton cosgrove ud have to be emailing
www.kiwifromthecouch.blogspot.com
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This, below, is the reply that I received this morning from
the Minister of Sport and Recreation. The thrust of my letter was
"The ban was meant to hinder the Fijian regime and surely NOT
to hinder New Zealanders. Why in this case is NZ Soccer having to
carry such a burden. Is there any chance of the Government making
good their losses, reviewing the situation?"
Dear Mike
Thank you for your email of 25 October 2007 regarding the Fijian visa
situation. I wish to make clear that the Government too was deeply
disappointed by FIFA�s decision to cancel the fixture.
Since December 2006, sporting contact with teams or individuals
representing Fiji or Fijian clubs has been banned. Exemptions for Fijian
sporting teams are considered on a case-by-case basis. In this case joint
Ministers decided to grant an exemption so the Fijian team could play the
match in New Zealand. Officials went to considerable lengths to process
the late visa applications from the Fiji team in time.
Like any other country, New Zealand determines its immigration criteria.
One Fiji player was not eligible for a New Zealand visa under existing
policy. The Fiji team remained entitled to enter New Zealand for this game
so long as it was comprised of persons who met immigration criteria. While
the eligible team members did arrive in New Zealand, the Fiji Football
Association elected to politicise the issue.
Thank you again for taking the time to write.
Thank you for your email of 25 October 2007 regarding the Fijian visa
situation. I wish to make clear that the Government too was deeply
disappointed by FIFA�s decision to cancel the fixture.
Since December 2006, sporting contact with teams or individuals
representing Fiji or Fijian clubs has been banned. Exemptions for Fijian
sporting teams are considered on a case-by-case basis. In this case joint
Ministers decided to grant an exemption so the Fijian team could play the
match in New Zealand. Officials went to considerable lengths to process
the late visa applications from the Fiji team in time.
Like any other country, New Zealand determines its immigration criteria.
One Fiji player was not eligible for a New Zealand visa under existing
policy. The Fiji team remained entitled to enter New Zealand for this game
so long as it was comprised of persons who met immigration criteria. While
the eligible team members did arrive in New Zealand, the Fiji Football
Association elected to politicise the issue.
Thank you again for taking the time to write.
The letter was signed by the outgoing Minister Trevor
Mallard.
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
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Many years ago i had a similar job, writing ministerials for Helen
Clark, whilst i was young, poor and stupid at the time - i honestly
don't believe i ever wrote anything that faintly resembled the
bull-sh*t ratio in that one!
if any NZ football fan ever suffers a disease that leads to low blood pressure - that piece of crap should them back up at 80/120 in no time
if any NZ football fan ever suffers a disease that leads to low blood pressure - that piece of crap should them back up at 80/120 in no time
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I've just sent a note back to the Minister's office
indicating that I am unhappy with the reply. This time asking for
an explicit reply to the questions posed. Any reply will appear
here.
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
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When will we know if the govt is coughing up with $$. I want to
know when to riot
Founder
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I've just sent a note back to the Minister's office
indicating that I am unhappy with the reply. This time asking for
an explicit reply to the questions posed. Any reply will appear
here.
good skills DF, feel free to empty your mail box
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from fifa about yesterdays fiji game:
...........
one month too late.
However, officials in Fiji have been frustrated by a number of disruptions to their preparations and a number of players have not confirmed their availability for the match.
First choice goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau has been ruled out because he has not been released by his employers, Malakai Tiwa and Josaia Bukalidi are injured, and defender Samu Vula has excused himself, citing personal reasons.
...........
one month too late.
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Winston. Where's our f**king money?
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I have still had no reply. I sent a reminder to the Minister's
office earlier today.
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
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there to f*ken scared to email you back what a bunch of to*sers
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We are now writing to ccosgrove@ministers.govt.nz
Post reshuffle he is now both Minister of Sport and
Immigration. Surely, he cant find somebody to pass the buck
too
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EVERYONE:
I need to know if the Fijian Netball President carries a New
Zealand Passport at all as well as a Fijian one. We're gonna look
silly if that's the case.
Also, if it turns out that this person does not carry a NZ
passport (or other qualifying document such as a existing residency
visa) then this is a sure case of hypocracy. We need to make sure
we cc the letters to opposition party MPs as well as the minister
so they can bring the issue up in parliament.
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I've not read that in the press anywhere. Check Michael Field's article - it doesnt look like she does - http://www.dominion.co.nz/4280671a10.html - surely, someone would have pointed it out if it was the case.
And regardless, it doesnt change the fact this visa policy is
totally daft. Unfortunately, football is paying for its appalling
design and application - and that is simply not good enough.
the govt owes football $ and an apology.
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More...
Tabete made no secret about her arrival in
New Zealand just over a week ago, disappointed over the banning of
her star player who is married to a military man.
Source: - http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411366/1454171"It was just something beyond our control but we have accepted the decision of the authorities and we are here to participate," Tabete said on November 7.
But Tabete knew the banning decision did not apply to everyone in her team. She was allowed in and her son is in the military.
"If you read the visa ban carefully you'll see it doesn't apply to a son or daughter being in the military," says Prime MInister Helen Clark.
Confusion is growing over why only some family members of Fijian soldiers are banned from New Zealand and some are not.
"It's really funny. There are a lot of people allowed to come and other people are not to come," says Amalaini Ligalevu, Fijian community leader.
Just last month a Fijian soccer player was denied a visa because his fiance's father is in Fiji's military. He wasn't even a blood relation, but the ban applied.
"It's not his right to come here, it's a privilege to come to any county and you've got to comply with the rules of that government," said Foreign Minister Winston Peters on October 12.
But the rules appear to be flexible.
"I think it's just important New Zealand is seen to be acting fairly and consistently. They government needs to tell us what the facts are," says Murray McCully, National spokesman on foreign affairs.
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
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thanks dairyflat - that only makes me angrier!
Even the Fijians are mocking this policy - "It's really funny. There are a lot of people allowed to come and other people are not to come," says Amalaini Ligalevu, Fijian community leader.
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I emailed Cosgrove last night and got a reply this morning saying
that my email had been forwarded to Winston Peters as it was his
area of responsibility...
"You can never get a bloody tradesman at Easter, it's a wonder Jesus got crucified" - Karl Pilkington
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Why don't you contact FIFA and ask why they have stated that
politics has no place in sport, and then tried to interfere with
New Zealand's immigration policy?
FIFA should be the ones reimbursing NZ football, they have been shown up as hypocrites. Our government shouldn't be required to back down on a matter like this just because some ignorant chumps who have no idea what is going on don't agree with our immigration policy. Bones2007-11-21 15:05:51
FIFA should be the ones reimbursing NZ football, they have been shown up as hypocrites. Our government shouldn't be required to back down on a matter like this just because some ignorant chumps who have no idea what is going on don't agree with our immigration policy. Bones2007-11-21 15:05:51
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Interesting perspective Bones. How do you feel FIFA have
interfered in New Zealand's immigration policy?
As I see it they just cancelled the match.
My problem isn't with the policy, it's with the application of
it: Netballers are okay, footballers are not.
Ridiculous.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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In related news, check the Yellow Fever press release on the front
page.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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Interesting perspective Bones. How do you feel FIFA have
interfered in New Zealand's immigration policy?
As I see it they just cancelled the match.
My problem isn't with the policy, it's with the application of
it: Netballers are okay, footballers are not.
Ridiculous.
Absolutely!
if we were sacrificing sport in support of some robust and
coherent foreign policy that would be one thing, but this is just a
complete shambles. Your son on active duty doesnt qualify as a link
to the military but your non-blood related father-in-law (when
you're not yet even married) does. sorry, that has no
credibility.
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It seems someone has made a bit of a cock-up (or two) in our
immigration department. That is no excuse for FIFA to try and
blackmail our government into changing our immigration
policy.
Winston is dead right when he states that we have a right to decide who we allow into our country. If a player had a criminal record in another country that denied them the right to enter New Zealand, would FIFA have taken the same approach? If not then they have canceled the match for political reasons. Why would they do this if they are not trying to influence our government?
The decision to deny the player a visa was for political reasons. There were no football related reasons. FIFA should not have gotten involved.
Winston is dead right when he states that we have a right to decide who we allow into our country. If a player had a criminal record in another country that denied them the right to enter New Zealand, would FIFA have taken the same approach? If not then they have canceled the match for political reasons. Why would they do this if they are not trying to influence our government?
The decision to deny the player a visa was for political reasons. There were no football related reasons. FIFA should not have gotten involved.
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It seems someone has made a bit of a cock-up (or two) in our
immigration department. That is no excuse for FIFA to try and
blackmail our government into changing our immigration
policy.
Winston is dead right when he states that we have a right to decide who we allow into our country. If a player had a criminal record in another country that denied them the right to enter New Zealand, would FIFA have taken the same approach? If not then they have canceled the match for political reasons. Why would they do this if they are not trying to influence our government?
The decision to deny the player a visa was for political reasons. There were no football related reasons. FIFA should not have gotten involved.
FIFA just stuck to a longstanding policy. it didnt do any
blackmailing.
Winston is dead right when he states that we have a right to decide who we allow into our country. If a player had a criminal record in another country that denied them the right to enter New Zealand, would FIFA have taken the same approach? If not then they have canceled the match for political reasons. Why would they do this if they are not trying to influence our government?
The decision to deny the player a visa was for political reasons. There were no football related reasons. FIFA should not have gotten involved.
of course we need visa rules and entry rules, just not plain
stupid ones that make a mockery of our entire foreign policy and
sanctions against bainimarama. they are laughing at us in
fiji.
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FYI -
New Zealand's bid document for the under-17
Women's World Cup included a letter from the Government saying only
players or officials with a criminal conviction would be unlikely
to receive a visa.
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
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they are laughing at us in fiji.
They weren't laughing before the match got cancelled. They were busy whining to FIFA about us trying to cheat.
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Who won Bones? Fiji hands down.
They get the game moved to a "neutral" venue, Bainimarama gets
the endorsement of the world's most powerful sporting body, and he
also gets to turn around and tell the people of Fiji how he socked
it to those bullies Clark and Peters. I reckon one fundamental test
of a "smart sanctions" policy is that it hurts the country it is
directed against (which i think is the intent of
sanctions after all) - against this basic test these
sanctions failed completely and not only that they stuffed nz
football. and now we learn that the visa policy has not only
imposed self inflicted damage on NZ but is a complete dog's
breakfast that forbids entry to someone with remote links to the
military, yets permits it for someone with direct links. there is
actually a story in the fiji times where the local netball
representative says it is "pretty funny" how some people can get
into nz and some cant (i am going to stretch things and suggest
just maybe she is having a bit of a chuckle at us)
Marius Lacatus2007-11-21 16:39:17
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So now you want our government to back down. That would make
Winston look really stupid.
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Winston already looks really stupid.
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It seems someone has made a bit of a cock-up (or two) in our
immigration department. That is no excuse for FIFA to try and
blackmail our government into changing our immigration
policy. [/QUOTE]
This is ture, but if the policy was applied to one sport, but not another then that is questionable, which is why most YF people are upset
[QUOTE=Bones] The decision to deny the player a visa was for political reasons. There were no football related reasons. FIFA should not have gotten involved.
Blackmail? FIFA simply cancelled the fixture in line with
fair-play policies. Blackmail "The crime involving a threat for
purposes of compelling a person to do an act against his or her
will, or for purposes of taking the person's money or
property"
Winston is dead right when he states that we have a right to decide
who we allow into our country. If a player had a criminal
record in another country that denied them the right to enter New
Zealand, would FIFA have taken the same approach? If not then
they have canceled the match for political reasons. Why would
they do this if they are not trying to influence our
government?
This is ture, but if the policy was applied to one sport, but not another then that is questionable, which is why most YF people are upset
[QUOTE=Bones] The decision to deny the player a visa was for political reasons. There were no football related reasons. FIFA should not have gotten involved.
I don't know of many serious historians/ political scientists/
athropologists who would argue that sport doesn't affect politics
or politics doesn't effect sport. Politics by definition is
that which concerns the polis - the people (state or soceity).
Sports fans are the people. The apparent inconsistency in the
application of the immigration ruling seems to suggest that certain
sporting codes do get different treatement by politicians, which is
no surprise if certain sports command the attention of a greater
constituency.
phil_style2007-11-22 05:12:08
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Latest - http://www.stuff.co.nz/4284385a10.html
Fiji rugby sevens refused NZ visas - report
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
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i suspect some of the 7s rugby players are actually soldiers
themselves - pretty hard to find a way arount that one.
It shouldnt really threaten the tournament though bc Fiji,
although an important team, are only one of many taking part. they
are replaceable
Marius Lacatus2007-11-22 13:51:55
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Dont know if it has been pointed out thaty our press release made
442 and Fiji Times
Founder
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just a reminder that this by no means the first time these
sanctions have been criticised - remember Peter Dunne last month -
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=526&objectid=10470115
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/4284385a1823.html
worth a read!
I say tackle him in the face.
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4284716a6000.html
Fiji can play here but they can't pass
through??
This is in today's (Fri 23/11/07)
DominionPost
The key thing in the article though is this "
dairyflat2007-11-23 08:26:45
But the Labour Department said
yesterday that there were exemptions
for multilateral sporting tournaments, hosted by New Zealand, when
the hosts did not have control over the selection of
participants.
The Wellington Sevens tournament is among those that have been cited as exempt.
Individual players with links to the Fiji military could
still be barred from entering New Zealand for the tournament,
however.
"Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
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its our stupid government being d**kheads, i have a feeling
most of the fijian 7's team is or has been in the military. Double
standards if you ask me.
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