Governments can never control people’s opinions. The very act of attempting to control negative comments leads to those negative comments being more widely publicised than they would have been had no attempt at censure been made!

Travel writing needs to be honest and informative or how else can people get a true appreciation of the qualities of a destination.

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Tend to agree with you Darren. The Immigration department should look at this blogger and find out just what is wrong with their administration. They should be thanking him!

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I followed your link to this blog. The blogger Helen (a Brit who emigrated to NZ) most certainly does not seem to be giving official ‘advice’ under any false pretences of being qualified to do so. She’s not actually advising people, just relating her experiences.

It seems there’s an Immigration Advisors Licensing Act (IALA) in New Zealand, that Immigration New Zealand are using to stop her blogging. But she says they won’t license anyone who’s not an ‘immigration agent’, whatever that means.

Her latest post reveals that the IALA breaches the free speech part New Zealand’s bill of rights.

I’m with Darren, and strongly against this type of censorship – especially as it seems to be utterly pointless and unproductive.

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I agree. Here in Belize if you ask 5 people their immigration stories each one would have a slightly different one to tell about the same process.

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Why do people blog? Well they do so for many reasons, however most bloggers are self opinionated and egotistical that are more than willing to reveal their personality by venting their one-sided world view. Blog readers are fully aware of this and can align themselves to their favorite blog and have a rest from bland middle of the road, politically correct journalism from the MSM. Unlike most of the MSM, any advice on blogs is given for free and the unwritten contract is that the onus is on the reader to establish the authenticity of the information presented.

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I do not think most people tell the difference between a blog and a website so providing that the information is accurate its not an issue. The problem is when inaccurate information is given then I agree the authorities need to step in.

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Considering the other side of the issue, how do you (societies/governments) decide what issues need to be licensed in order to avoid cowboy operators?

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If she/he is giving information that it is from real life experiences, lessons to learn then what is the problem. If she is giving immigration advice then I can understand the concerns of the authority. It is a difficult situation, people do not like to see people not having their opinions stopped by red tape.

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Hi folks

First off to decalre an interest that I’m Helen’s other half, and co-responsible for writing all the material that has caused an issue.

-Barrie – it’s well known that Immigration Nz have lots of problems, there have been at least three independant inquiries into various issues of ineptitude and unethical behaviour in the dept.. I think they’ve just got bored of hearing everyone tell them what’s wrong. The concern is why they don’t care.

-GSP – the new legislation is ‘supposed’ to be about immigration agents, people who charge a consultancy fee to help you fill in an immigration application form. Unfortunately the legislation is so badly written it draws in anyone who then write or talks about immigration. duff eh?

In general – why blog in this instance? Helen was contributing regularly (hours a day) on a variety of immigration forums providing help to other migrants and potential migrants from anywhere to anywhere. She’s good at it, and a number of people said she should write a book. Since we both love reading, and I’ve already got one book to my name, it them became a personal goal to get all the information down into a book.

A website with blog followed soon thereafter as a natural way of keeping the information available up to date. It’s very much a labour of love, and we’re both aware that there are always three sides to a debate – your side, their side, and the truth somewhere in between.

Thanks for the support – it’s most appreciated. We’ll keep you updated with progress. fortunately this has very much beek taken as a freedom of speach issue, rather than just being lumped into the ‘immigration it’s too hard’ basket.

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I wonder if this story was born through the need to sell the book, or was the book published before the blog. I am just wondering. I am often skeptical.

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I wonder if this story was born through the need to sell the book, or was the book published before the blog. I am just wondering. I am often sceptical.

I am gobsmacked at how many people focus on that damned book – as if it somehow invalidates the fact that the IAA says migrants have no right to help and advice each other. Or as If I have no right to earn an income, and the fact that I choose to sell a book somehow also invalidates my right to speak out on a corrupt law. If it makes you feel better – and am years away from making a profit on book sales. Why that matters to people I really don’t understand – but hey – who am I to judge Again – if it makes you feel better – the huge publicity that this has given me and my blog has resulted in 1 (one) book sale.

Would I have a right to my opinion only if I don’t earn money? I don’t by the way – I don’t have a job, and the blog (and book) is a hobby. That’s it.

The book came about after 18 months of answering questions on an Immigration Forum – I then spent another 18 months doing further research, updating and fact checking before self publishing the book. It’s about Personal Finance.

I started the blog because the forum owner would all of a sudden not allow any answers on his forum which presented New Zealand – or New Zealand companies in a negative light unless it was expressed as being only an opinion – it could not be presented as a fact.

This is the result of an unfortunate and tiresome argument on the forums between weather NZ is paradise – or hell on earth. I believe it depends on the person living the life – and that both sides need to be heard. I could not do that on the forums, so started my own blog – where I am not censored by those who insist that their way of life is the only one allowed

The IALA does not do what it is supposed to do, and it is being used not to protect migrants from bad advice (our Local MP is exempt from the act, and our experience shows he doesn’t know what has talking about) – it also doesn’t protect migrants from Immigration New Zealand staff continuing to give out incorrect information and causing migrants to become illegal overstayers.

It has however cut the number of agents who can get a cut of a very lucrative market down to less than 300 individuals (16 months after the law came into being). And it stops people like me from being able to answer even the most simple questions from potential migrants.

I did not emigrate from the UK to NZ to be told I had no right to speak out and help and advise other people. I think this law embarrasses New Zealand and makes us look pathetic, and the law needs binning.

I am now a New Zealand Citizen – and I have no right to free speech in this country. I have never claimed to be an Immigration Agent, any more than I have ever claimed to be a Financial Advisor ( I can waffle on about wages, taxes, savings and mortgages till the cows come home – but I can’t and won’t tell you which companies to invest in). I should however be able to help people who want to emigrate and are facing the same issues that we did.

Bottom line – it should not be illegal to help people

Thanks ever so much for picking up this story – I really appreciate the support. I have found some people to work with in the hopes of getting this law changed – so hopefully some good will come of it

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