Are the Chinese asylum seekers, said to be making their way to New Zealand, welcome here?

2012-04-23

The boat left Malaysia bound for New Zealand last month, but were picked up by the Australians after they issued a distress call.

The people claim to be members of the Chinese persecuted Falun Gong spiritual group. One of the group told reporters in Darwin they'd be "arrested by the Communists" if sent back to China. Australia says it is powerless to detain the people in Australia as they have a seaworthy boat

The asylum seekers have since decided not to attempt the journey to New Zealand, but would they have been welcome here if they had?

By Pete
Stay calm, let them rock up, process them correctly, if they get in, they only become part of the annual quota. I wish them a safe and pleasant voyage. Sailing that journey in a seaworthy boat is something I am envious of!

By kane
Ah dancers kind of group who would go to a park do their dance with a hat at the ready to take our charity money off us... Kind of people who also hide behind culture as an excuse to get things their way... Do we really need any more of these groups??

By alice
let them go to the states! the founder of Falun Gong lives in U.S., he is an anti-Chinese govt activist and encourages the followers to do so. I felt sick and ashamed when I drove by the Chinese Embassy on Great South Road,they stay in the rain and protest like an idiot! My school mate's wife and her mum were conned to practise as a start for the purpose of doing everyday exercises then later the whole thing turned to be very political. Some practitioners use petrol to burn themselves in public for the so-called "democracy". End up my school mate's whole family was ruined. His wife and mum-in law became extreme activist, the wife even refused to feed her baby. Two of them were put into prison and the mum died in prison due to illness as she believed Falun Gong will help to heal. Now, my school mate was influenced and started to believe in Falun Gong, you can imagine they have no friends now, his wife has no job, as people surrounding them feel sick that they are trying to persuade everyone they know to follow the belief. not my cup of tea. I would rather believe in myself. Don't try to believe they're prosecuted by Chinese govt, there are many muslins mosques and cathlic churches in China, if these people are purely religious, they can do whatever they like. These Falun Gong people are very annoying, acting like spirit coming out of ghosts..

By Rogge
No. No. No more refugees, asylum seekers or unskilled people, we have enough in NZ already who aren't prepared to work and assimilate into NZ society. This boat trip is a "test run" for others to follow and then the flood gates will be open.

By Jonny
If we let these people in then the flood gates will open. Walk up Queen St and you can see that these people dont integrate into NZ society, they dont learn English, hence all the Chinese writings in Auckland. By letting all these people in we would just be continuing the extinction of the NZ culture.Its not racist, its fact. Sorry, but we cant help everyone.

By Jeffrey Huffadine
I have to agree with Rogge about NZ taking anymore asylum seekers from China.What actually happened was that the reason why the ten Chinese Falun Gong asylum seekers had escaped from persecution from the Falun Gong then decided to sail to Malayasia then called into Darwin enroute to New Zealand.If the Australian government says they do not want the ten Falun Gong asylum seekers there then by all means the New Zealand government should also tell the asylum seekers to go back to where they come from.But OH NO the New Zealand politically correct government is far too soft on its immigration policy of allowing asylum seekers and also refugees into New Zealand and we have enough of them as it is at this present time.It is about time that New Zealanders should take a much more tougher stand of saying to this politically correct government that we certainly do not want no more refugees or asylum seekers into this country of ours.No questions asked.If nothing is done then we will one day will be overruled by not just Chinese but also other nationalities and we will have a huge catastrophe on our hands.Whatever these ten asylum seekers say if they are sent back to China they'd be arrested by the Communists.It is obvious that the governments on both sides of the ditch are just too powerless to do anything about these asylum seekers and refugees.

By Lic
I like Alice's comment: "Don't try to believe they're prosecuted by Chinese govt, there are many muslins monsques and cathlic churches in China, if these people are purely religious, they can do whatever they like. These Falun Gong people are very annoying, acting like spirit coming out of ghosts."