British woman banned from entering New Zealand because she is too fat
71A British woman who wanted to start a new life in New Zealand with her husband was refused entry by New Zealand. Reason given by the Immigration authorities – she was too fat and will be a burden to health care system.
Rowan Trezise, 33 and her husband Richie Trezise, 35 were planning to move from their home, England to New Zealand, but because she was overweight, New Zealand banned her from entering the country.
When they first tried to gain entry to New Zealand, they were told by the authorities they were both overweight and will be a burden on the health care system.
Mr. Trezise, a submarine cable specialist and former member of the army said his Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured at 42. Any BMI over 25 is considered overweight and unhealthy. So, Mr. Trezise managed to work his body and dropped his waistline to fulfill criteria set out as part of his visa application to work as a technician in the country. When he told this to his doctor, the doctor said this was the most ridiculous thing he has heard in his whole life.
He and his wife had wanted to explore outdoors in New Zealand and be more active.
His wife however had problems unable to shed weight like her husband and is trying to hard to meet the requirements by Christmas. If it doesn’t work they have decided to drop moving to New Zealand. But for now Mr. Trezise is in New Zealand awaiting his wife’s approval.
Robyn Toomath, a spokesman for New Zealand's Fight the Obesity Epidemic and an endocrinologist said they should not be victimized, but however agreed with the restrictions. She said the immigration department cannot afford to import people who are going to be a significant drain on their health resources.
While the New Zealand Immigration Service could not say how many people had been refused entry on similar grounds, the Emigrate New Zealand website revealed that many people had been banned for being obese.
This is an absurd requirement, instead the New Zealand can set health costs a little higher to encourage them to lose weight. BMI is not the true index to determine overweight, you can ask the weightlifters or athletes, they will have a high BMI value.
BMI is measured by a person's weight divided by his or her height squared, but the weight could be either from muscle mass or body fat. Most of the athletes have high muscle mass and low body fat, Shaquille O’Neal for example used to have 3% body fat, that doesn’t make him obese. It is a shame a developed country like New Zealand, has such a ridiculous rule. I think Rowan and her husband are better off in England.
Do you agree with New Zealand’s immigration policy?
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Thanks Stacie, I think if it is a disease or infection, I can understand, they can raise the health insurance costs if they find this as a problem. But banning is extreme I think.
What i can't understand is that when travelling, all bags are weighed at the airports which they are very strict with, but people are not weighed which i think is a bit crazy!!
There was a controversy, the planes wanted to charge based on the passengers weights. Hopefully this will couple be able to go to New Zealand, if not they can try other countries.
well airlines have been losing money due to the increased cost of fuel from america's general growing obesity. one of the things airlines have done to keep from having to increase costs to cover this, up to now with the increase in oil prices, has been to drop some stuff, like... floatation devices. :|
this controversy will likely increase as the weight of the average american does. I mean, somebody has to pay for it.
it's a costly thing, obesity, costing the U.S. more in productivity costs than smoking, alcohol, drugs combined. and the costs of medical care for obesity are a huge part of the problem with our economy, outstripping smoking.
there are a large variety of secondary illnesses caused by morbid obesity including diabetes, cancer, heart problems, knee and back problems, strokes and so forth. it's hard to blame a country which has socialized medicine for showing a concern although it's a bit tacky to exclude one person and single them out as in this case.
I know in Great Britain, there are public service campaigns against obesity including school programs and so forth, because of the swelling costs there now.
i have been in new zealand for 6 years and have found it to be the worse place i have ever stayed. its a backward country full of unplesant people, almost all of them refuse to treat people from an other country as an equal. we are leaving as soon as we sell our house. dont come here, after the the excitment of being in a diferent country wears off you will swim all the way back to europ to get away.
Thank you Mark for your comments, sad to hear you weren't treated properly.
I was interested to hear that you dislike living in New Zealand. I live in the city, and although even that is too small for my preferences, it is pleasant. We have a lot of kind and intelligent people who are helpful. I find our multiculturalism to be a bonus as well.
Dee good to hear about your city.
I have a freind in New Zealand who is Chilean and he speaks with an accent, although clear enough english, but loves New Zealand. He does not get treated differently to other people there. Sounds like mark found a sour batch of people in his area which is no good but you could find that anywhere in the world.
I agree Nathan, sadly it is Universal.
BMI being accurate or not, if that's truly a photo of the two in question, she's definitely overweight to the point of causing far more weight related health problems and should shed a few (20-30) kilos.
Thanks Bob for your comment. They can deny her insurance unless she maintains her weight but for some it is a health issue.
Saying she was denied residence was because she is fat is highly misleading. She was denied because she has a pre-existing condition that is likely to give rise to other conditions as she ages.
NZ has a free healthcare system, which is under no obligation to shoulder the burden of her future care simply because she wants to immigrate.
There's nothing unusual about denying a residence application on the basis that the applicant may become a burden to the healthcare system after they immigrate - whatever the reason that may be.
Would it be fair to let this woman immigrate while denying other people entry because they have a medical condition that is different than hers?
No, it would not. Tough, heartbreaking even, but fair.
Fair enough. Deliberately giving herself health issues by being fat - it's a deliberate lifestyle choice. All she has to do is put some effort into eating healthily and exercising. Think of the people with medical conditions who cannot get in at all.
This is like when people were complaining about how abusing fat people should be a hate crime - no.
In my opinion, fat people should not complain about any discrimination against them - it is their choice and their fault.
To 'MARK'New Zealand is just like any other place, depending on the area you live in you are still going to get people that do treat you unfairly, thats life i'm afraid mate. But seeing as your from europe all you seem to do is complain. Maybe if you had an optimistic view on life your experience would have been different, however in saying that I hope you get out of the country as soon as possible. On the other note I believe that being banned from NZ due to your size is yes slightly harsh, but well needed, without this we would end up with no money due to everyone with such poor health conditions due to their obesity. The BMI scale is rather inaccurate I must say, but to have a BMI of 45 you have to be seriously overweight. Hopefully this can be a motivator for the wife and soon they can happily live in beautiful New Zealand.
Screw New Zealand. Come to the USA, we would be happy to have you. :)
Stacie Naczelnik 4 years ago
I agree to an extent. BMI is not the only scale that should be used. I think New Zealand has every right to say someone cannot come because they don't show signs of living a healthy lifestyle.