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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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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