Australian journalist Avi Yemini was denied entry to New Zealand (NZ) by the immigration office while on his way to report on a protest in New Zealand’s capital on Aug. 23.
Immigration NZ told 1News that Yemini had failed to meet the “good character” test for immigration requirements due to a past criminal conviction.
“The onus is on the person to satisfy Immigration NZ that they meet all of the visa and entry requirements for New Zealand, including being of good character,” a spokesperson said.
According to the Immigration NZ website, a person fails to meet its good character requirements if they have a criminal conviction, have been deported from another country, or the organisation has reason to believe they are a risk to the country’s security, public order, or public interest….