New Zealand: Fat? No Immigration For You!

Way to go. Next step will be the rejection of black people because they don't have the "good skin color"? Or jews because they "killed the Christ"?

And it's plain stupid : what if you gain the weight after you immigrate : do they throw you out?

It has all the logic, both good and bad, of not allowing poor or unskilled/uneducated people in, with the arguement that they would likely be a drain on public resources.
I know that when I applied for a student visa to the UK, part of the info they wanted was bank statements and proof that I wouldn't have to ask for support(although I do get health care).

No fat chicks.

Dude looks pretty robust himself.

He looks bigger than her.

I'm not sure why this article is on neatorama. What's "neat" about it?

@Baerana

What's neat about it is that NZ made a great decision here.

Sorry Rowan but you are indeed all woman. And good point @ted - Richie's certainly not the last one in the dinner queue himself there. NZ should actually review their immigration stance on him.

I like it.

Danny Crane!

Seriously Chris, comparing blackness to fatness? Something your born with to something you did to yourself? We're talking about a relatively tiny country with limited resources here. It really seems like a legitimate point, more so than most of the reasons the US denies entry for.

Ryan, it's been proven that your weight can be dependent on your genes. Not all fat people are fat because they choose to be (by their eating habits). Granted, some people predisposed to be overweight may become even more overweight based on eating habits, but it doesn't mean they wouldn't have been overweight to begin with.

Look at people who are 600 pounds... do you think you could become that fat even if you tried? It's obviously fueled by genetics and not just eating habits.

Good for NZ. Too many fatties and their island might sink.

There is no logic in what they did...I can't believe how many ignoramuses post here on Neatorama.
Like it or not, fatness is determined by genetics, and propagated by lifestyle.
It is absurd that NZ would do this, but then again, if they act like fat-nazis, who wants to go there anyway?

Being fat is not solely based on one's genetic make up. Fat people are more prone any number of heart problems and other medical conditions that would put a drain on NZ's socialized health care. Similarly it is doubtful they would accept a person with cancer or someone who needed a new liver.

Genetics or no, I think this is a perfectly reasonable policy. If there was a law against fat people VISITING the country that would be different, but the economic drain on the healthcare system caused by obesity is a well-known fact. Many countries also require HIV screening and all kinds of other tests before they'll let you move on in. I hope they don't allow smokers to immigrate either.

Okay, casting aside all the snide remarks about our tiny little islands and our (obviously Evil) 'socialised' health care system, I see no reason why this fat bird should be given special consideration - that said, NZ does allow in a great many Polynesian personages who are not shy about the buffet table.
Personally, the fewer people who come over here the better, so good on the Immigration Department - keep 'em all out!

Crash dieters are much more unhealthy than fat people.

Take a minute and let that sink in.

Is New Zealand limiting smokers or people with heart disease from entering? No. This is absurd.

Kia Ora

I'm a New Zealander and Proud of it.

Let me fill you in, the reason we have what is commonly know as the 'no fatties bill' is the only way we know how to keep the majority of americans out of our country without directly saying 'piss off you yankee bastards' and giving the fingers. This is just an unfortunate byproduct of the bill.

Also in responce to Chris: "what if you gain the weight after you immigrate : do they throw you out?"

Yes, Yes we do.

Wow... Judging by the comments from some of the New Zealanders here, you'd think their attitude would be enough to deter people from wanting to enter their country.

A country with no fat immigrants...

Sounds wonderful.

You know something folks, it really is up to a country who they let in and its not up to anyone else to force it on them. We used to call that democracy (used to have that in the UK once too).

The husband had to lost weight (like 20kg or something) before he immigrated.. and his wife is trying to catch up with him so she can immigrate too. I think it's fair enough - our health system is rubbish enough without further "strain". :P

I think something fairer would have been let her come over, but check up in a year and see what kind of lifestyle she has then and weight loss.. separating her from her husband isn't fair and deserves special consideration given that we need skilled workers.

I saw a couple of obese English tourists walking down the waterfront with their little girl yesterday and automatically assumed they were either on holidays or fresh off the boat because they were so fat and you just don't really see that here..

Either way, we don't want people that are going to be a burden, either on welfare or healthcare - sorry to not tiptoe around your PC ideologies but if you're just going to be a leech, or run the risk of being a leech then you can bugger off.

so what does NZ do with people in wheelchairs and such? are they shipped off to a "home"?

I'm American (sadly, nowadays I feel the need to apologize about that), and I used to be a bounder myself. I lost the weight, and my metabolism is such that it's very easy for me to gain. I can speak from the heart: Your health is your choice. Your genes decide the penalty if you screw up your body, but if you maintain your body with healthy foods, making sure you get the vitamins and minerals you need while maintaining a healthy Ph level, you're not going to become obese.

That introduction being said: NZ is well within its rights as a country to be concerned about the tax burden of its citizens. If it feels fat people constitute an unwelcome burden, and since they ARE a parlimentary democracy, then that's the way it goes. Stop complaining and go pay your 40%+ tax rate.

Incidentally, I don't fool myself about how the way democracy works; if the majority want to do something, even if it's to HARM some one, group, or thing, then, majority rules. This is also why I prefer a constitutional Republic, like America used to have.

Finally, let's do get back to something Neat on Neatorama. Politics are easy to talk about, but are not properly categorized when placed on a site associated with Uncle John's Bathroom Reader and Mental_Floss.

Slack but pointful !

@Monster, I bet that 99.9% of fat people are fat because of their habits.

So, will New Zealand deny immigration status to those who have other health issues? If you've had cancer...nope, can't come in, you might get it again. Heart disease? Begone from our shores! If New Zealand officials were really up on their medical "stuff", they'd know that research now shows that it's yoyo dieters who are more of a health risk than just plain fat people. And by the way, I am not fat...I just think it's stupid to discriminate this way.
We WERE going to visit New Zealand...my attitude now? Hope the stupid country sinks.

I'm from New Zealand and I think that this is just stupid considering all of the pacific islander whales they let waddle through the airport gates. That being said, we don't know how fat she really is. There is a difference between being overweight and being a big fattie baloomba where her health could be an issue.

The first comment about race is just stupid.