A British couple wanted to move to New Zealand after their wedding. They ran into one small problem, or actually it was one large problem. New Zealand told them they are too fat to immigrate to their country.
Robyn Toomath, a spokesman for New Zealand's Fight the Obesity Epidemic, said, "The immigration department can't afford to import people who are going to be a significant drain on our health resources ... You can see the logic in assessing if there is a significant health cost associated with this individual and that would be a reason for them not coming in."
No, I can't see that logic. Because under that rationale you would also ban people who smoke and sky dive and have unprotected sex. Are they going to be checking to see if people are using condoms during intercourse before they let them move to New Zealand? And how would they do that check exactly?
In the case of weight, they actually use Body Mass Index that compares your weight to your height and sees if you are within the prescribed limits or not. So, they physically weigh these people and tell them if they're too fat to live in the country. That's sick.
Meddling in people's private lives started with messing with smokers. I worried at the time that it would spread to other areas of our private lives where we made decisions that our companies or governments or insurers disapproved of. And now it has. This is a terrible trend and we have to make sure it's contained. So, I propose banning New Zealanders from coming here and spreading their discriminatory policies to us.
Finally, there is good news and bad news from the British couple trying to move to New Zealand. The groom lost two inches off his waistline and he has passed the health requirements. But unfortunately, his wife still hasn't made it. So she is stuck in England, still dieting.
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New Zealand Bans Woman for Being Too Fat
Posted Nov 20th 2007 10:08AM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: World News, Young Turks, Strange
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Reader Comments ( Page 8 of 9)
106. I visited NZ a few years ago and was amazed that absolutely no food, used or unused (including empty candy wrappers or an unopened bottle of water) one had on the plane was allowed inside the country. These were sniffed out by beagles inside the airport and confiscated. This is done because NZ does not wish to have any foreign substances or insects and explains why NZ has no poisonous snakes, spiders, or other unsavory plant/animal life as does neighboring Australia. Sniffing out the morbidly obese is however extreme. However, their economy is rather strong with a relatively low unemployment rate and their taxes pay for subsidized healthcare. Most U.S. insurance companies may not even insure you if you have pre-existing health conditions, and if so, you and your company pay through the nose. I agree with many of you that the US should be more exclusive with Mexicans and other foreigners harboring diseases (although we happen to be a lot tougher on Eastern Europeans who just want to visit someone in our country for a few weeks). NZ is a beautiful country and if they wish to exclude citizenship because of morbid obesity then that is their perogative. Wish we in the USA could make demands on our Mexican neighbors, like LEARN OUR LANGUAGE and STOP WAVING THE MEXICAN FLAG around if you want to be a US citizen. And come here the legal way, not sneaking over the border with all your kids and demanding (and getting) free medical care while we workers and our companies pay and pay and pay. Many of our short-termed unemployed, but legal citizens, cannot get free medical care without a major hassle and much restriction. NZ, with its two islands, doesn't have our problem with neighboring freeloaders. So, if they wish to exclude the morbidly obese from citizenship, they have the every right to do so.
LORI B at 12:20PM on Nov 25th 2007
107. Big deal, the lard asses will lose weight to get in and then chow down again. No way to enforce their food intake once they are in!!!!
michelle at 12:25PM on Nov 25th 2007
108. Reading these just goes to show the ignorance of people. Not every overweight person is obese. And not every extra pound is put on by someone who never gets of the couch and spends their days eating giant bowls of ice cream and fried cheese. I know several people who would be considered overweight that don't over eat at all and are very active. I for one have a 1000 calorie a day diet and work out 3 to 4 times a week. I am still considered heavy. Not everyone's body is made equally. I am ok with who I am, but I am a beautiful, intelligent, independant woman. I don't have my self-worth wrapped up in what other people think I look like in a bikini.
harleychic52031 at 12:28PM on Nov 25th 2007
109. As a New Zealand Citizen I agree with the Government'decision..There are already enough obese people there which are a drain on the national health system...If Smoking and Alcohol were banned Worldwide ; the World would be a much healthier place
nevon at 1:12PM on Nov 25th 2007
110. Wow! Finally a country who grew some 'nads and spoke the truth rather than spew political correctness! America, follow suit! New Zealand has set a precedence--now we should be able to kick out illegals for draining OUR system. Do you want to argue "cheap labor?" Well then by that argument, it's the same as saying obese people are keeping fast food places open. See how stupid that logic is? Fast food will always be, and so will America-without illegals!
pixiegrl at 1:36PM on Nov 25th 2007
111. Yesterday the title of this post was different. Today I see it's "...bans WOMAN for being too fat." What's wrong? Couldn't generate enough controversy with the old title, so you had to change it to make it look like sexism? Typical liberal spin and deception, making a story seem to be something it's not.
Steve at 3:50PM on Nov 25th 2007
112. When do they ban Homosexuals who cause healthcare costs to rise?
Dennis D at 4:17PM on Nov 25th 2007
113. i guess that crazy reason is as good as another.. i dont know if its a healthy issue. though its weird..
Dharma at 5:56PM on Nov 25th 2007
114. I think they acted appropriately. It is their decision, after all. These people were immigrating to a country - as a non citizen you have no rights.
No probs in my view - fat people are more likely to develop diabetes and heart conditions, which would increase domestic health care costs.
dd at 8:57PM on Nov 25th 2007
115. To the degree that a country; New Zealand, USA or any other country promotes a socialized health care system, then the government (hence the taxpayers who foot the bill) have every right to regulate behavior that impacts health care spending. If you want complete freedom to live as you want, then you better be prepared to accept and pay for the consequences. Of course liberals want it both ways; they want freedom to live any high risk lifestyle that they want, but then force the rest of us to pay for it.
Stu Hohm at 8:46PM on Nov 25th 2007
116. Banning obese people that is so absurd. If so, then perhaps they need to look out their back doors and deport all those obese/overweight, alcoholic, drug addicted, unprotected sex/HIV, Heptatis and mentally handicapped people as well. Oh and don't forget those that might be physically handicapped and the perverts that abuse children, women and omg animals! Wonder who would be left there then?
Get real New Zealanders, you want people to come to see your "beautiful country", yet you discriminate, how rude. Learn some manners and life lessons while your making all your insane laws and rules!
As for the British couple...move somewhere else where you will be appreciated more. Who would want to live in such a place even if you lost the required weight to go and live there, you know they are always going to be monitoring you in some shape, form or fashion!
Anne Johnson at 11:41PM on Nov 25th 2007
117. I think it is a very reasonable request. Maybe if we all stopped considering it as a "condition" that is acceptable and started working a little harder to get into shape a lot of costs would balance out and the world would be a healthier happier place!
Blondiee29 at 10:44AM on Nov 26th 2007
118. To be banned from entering new Zealand due to obesity is quite resonable. Many people who are overweight emigrate here so these poor folks must have been dangerously obese. One should also remember that New Zealand only has 4 million people with a totally state funded health system. Balancing the books in this situation is very difficult, to the point that, when people come here (non-citizen or tax payers) and end up needing emergency or long term health care the budget becomes highly strained. Besides, New Zealand is facing an epidemic of obesity amongst our Polynesian and Maori communities especially. To allow more people into the country with health problems with an already strained health system is plain stupid.
Dave at 4:12AM on Nov 27th 2007
119. What about the director Peter Jackson, a fatso and kiwi...
he's has money, though.
Dave R at 9:51PM on Nov 26th 2007
120. According to recent studies, obesity is now a bigger health problem than smoking, and second hand obesity results in the spread of obesity. But we don't make fat people leave the building to wolf down a couple Twinkies. And the fact is that there has never been a study that proves that second hand smoke is even as dangerous as car emmisions. So don't bother me when I light up or I'll tie you to a fat person.
Stanley Harris at 12:50PM on Nov 27th 2007