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I have been asked to address all of you here today on immigration matters concerning Fiji. I know many of you here today are deeply concerned about the crisis that is currently underway in Fiji, and I sympathise with you.

This Government, like all democratic governments around the world, have condemned the actions of George Speight and his supporters.

The role that I play in the coalition Government as Minister of Immigration is secondary to the role of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who has led the New Zealand response to the hostage crisis.

My agreement to speak to you today derives from concern among New Zealand citizens and residents about family members in Fiji. I understand your concern.

Rumours and speculation have been rife. Hopefully I can clarify the issues.

The New Zealand Immigration Service branch operating out of Fiji has not escaped the fall out from the attempted coup. It has not been business as usual since the day George Speight took the Parliament.

The branch in Suva operates out of the New Zealand High Commission, and our High Commissioner evacuated all but three staff members.

Basically, we had to close our branch in the first few weeks, and now operate behind close doors.

With respect to temporary visas, it is the urgent ones that are being processed „o medical, business, family visas „o as well as visa waivers for those considered at risk.

I admit this has made it difficult for people seeking visas to come to New Zealand, but I know the same is true for other countries.

A backlog of residence applications has been transferred to New Zealand for processing to relieve the burden on those working out of Suva.

There are a number of people from Fiji in New Zealand on visitor's visas or permits. I instructed my officials on the day of the attempted coup to allow those whose permits were close to expiring to grant them an extension. This can be for up to two months. After that, and if there is still a hostage situation in Fiji, then the Immigration Service will look at granting another extension.

This ensures that no one would be in New Zealand unlawfully and at risk of being removed by the Immigration Service.

People who are unlawfully in New Zealand are not being removed to Fiji at the moment either ¡V which is an opportunity, I believe, for those people to approach the Immigration Service for advice.

The New Zealand Government has not considered introducing any other special policies with respect to immigration at this stage, other than the refusal to issue visas to sports teams representing Fiji or Fijian clubs.

All other immigration rules remain unchanged.

As Minister of Immigration, I do not have the power to change policy. Only the Cabinet can do that. I have not yet recommended to Cabinet to do so, largely because we do not know what the outcome will be. The number one priority is the safe release of the hostages.

At the same time, I cannot find words strong enough to condemn the actions of the hostage takers. Phil Goff has stated the Government's abhorrence of the situation in very explicit terms.

We have moved to make sure that George Speight or any of his supporters will never be able to enter into New Zealand. There is provision in the Immigration Act to prevent known terrorists from entering the country.

This section will be invoked against George Speight and anyone actively involved in the coup. They are not welcome here.

I would like to add that this situation in Fiji has been drawn out for too long. There have been hostages held in the Fijian Parliament now for almost eight weeks, living on small amounts of food and water, according to women who were released last weekend.

A week ago when I spoke to the Christchurch Fijian Indian Community, I believed they would be released that day. But the situation is like trying to pick up mercury.

Should the situation in Fiji deteriorate significantly in the next week or so, the New Zealand Immigration Service is prepared to implement any decisions of the Government. Obviously our approach will be part of a broader international response, but the obvious first consideration will be the spouses and dependent children of New Zealand citizens and residents.

I would urge those citizens who are spouses or dependent children of New Zealand citizens or residents to register their names and other details with the Immigration Service officials in Fiji as soon as possible. This will help the Service to assist should, as I said, the situation deteriorate.

For those of you who have relatives in Fiji, I probably cannot say any more right now. For those who qualify under existing policy, please put your application in. NZQA have assured us that they are prioritising the qualifications work.

In closing, I hope the hostages are released very, very soon, and that the burden of threat is lifted. Then the world can judge what has occurred and then New Zealand can play its role in an international response.

Thank you.