Deported due to weight? Are you kidding?

Wellington, July 27: Strange are the ways (or should we read it ‘weighs'?) of people and stranger are the ways of immigration offices. While the weight of a South Africa national (of 130 kg) could be discussed in another forum, what has drawn our attention is the way the

immigration department is behaving.

In a unique, hilarious, strange and surprising incident, Albert Buitenhuis and his wife Marthie are facing deportation due to the former's weight. Their continuous application for work visa renewal were rejected citing that he did not meet the required health standards set by the New Zealand government for its citizen.

Call it irony, but Albert weighs a lot lesser than what he used to when he had come to New Zealand with his wife. "He weighed 160 kilos then," said Marthie. "And there was no problem in getting a visa for him or subsequent renewals," she further added.

A spokesperson from the immigration department said, "he was rejected because his health conditions put him at significant risk of complications including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and obstructive sleep apnoea."

Well...well, dear sir/madam, what do we consider it?... ‘accidental' discovery?

Just for our readers' information, a recent OECD report suggests that Nw Zealand is the third most developed obese nation after USA and Mexico.