Man "too fat" to be allowed to live in New Zealand

[Eri]

Authorities in New Zealand have told a South African chef he is too fat to be allowed to live in the country.

Immigration officials said Albert Buitenhuis, who weighs 130kg (286 pounds), did not have "an acceptable standard of health".

He now faces expulsion despite shedding 30kg since he moved to the city of Christchurch six years ago.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23475583

I didn't realize countries could...or even would expel someone because of their weight. That's...interesting. I guess fat people should not move to New Zealand.

 

[Zhukov]

Wut?

That's, uh... that's, that's a... a thing. Yes, totally a thing. I think we can agree on that much.

I expect it will get reversed due to all the attention.

 

[Thaluikhain]

He wasn't expelled, his Visa wasn't renewed. Not quite the same thing.

Seems more of an excuse than a reason, though.

 

[Lilani]

Unless he's like 5'5" or less, 286 isn't that fat. I mean yeah it's still pretty obese, probably even classified as morbidly obese, but there are people in the US and the UK who are over 300 and even 500 pounds. So yeah he's pretty fat, but there are much fatter people. And I find it hard to believe there's nobody in New Zealand over 300 pounds.

 

[Shpongled]

Unless he's like 5'5" or less, 286 isn't that fat. I mean yeah it's still pretty obese, probably even classified as morbidly obese, but there are people in the US and the UK who are over 300 and even 500 pounds. So yeah he's pretty fat, but there are much fatter people. And I find it hard to believe there's nobody in New Zealand over 300 pounds.

New Zealand are very strict on their immigration policies.

Just for clarification here, they're not renewing his visa due to his health, not his weight, as OP seems intent on spinning it. There is a difference. Weight is fairly arbitrary (up to a point), health on the other hand is likely to factor substantially in the cost of that individual to the state.

 

[Colour Scientist]

Well, maybe they're worried that he'll just become a burden on the country's health service?

That's not really a new thing to the world but I've never heard about it happening to someone because they're fat.

Edit: it's pretty unfortunate for him though.

 

[Eri]

Unless he's like 5'5" or less, 286 isn't that fat. I mean yeah it's still pretty obese, probably even classified as morbidly obese, but there are people in the US and the UK who are over 300 and even 500 pounds. So yeah he's pretty fat, but there are much fatter people. And I find it hard to believe there's nobody in New Zealand over 300 pounds.

New Zealand are very strict on their immigration policies.

Just for clarification here, they're not renewing his visa due to his health, not his weight, as OP seems intent on spinning it. There is a difference. Weight is fairly arbitrary (up to a point), health on the other hand is likely to factor substantially in the cost of that individual to the state.

I would argue you're trying to spin it in the opposite direction, it is quite obvious about his weight. They or you can say it's about general health but it's obvious, especially after listing his weight, that that is what it is actually about.

 

[krazykidd]

I read the title and though he was killed for being too fat . Then i read he was Only 286 pounds . So dissapointed on so many levels .

OT:

He wasn't expelled, his Visa wasn't renewed. Not quite the same thing.

Seems more of an excuse than a reason, though.

This , is what i thought after i read the whole thing.

 

[Albino Boo]

Unless he's like 5'5" or less, 286 isn't that fat. I mean yeah it's still pretty obese, probably even classified as morbidly obese, but there are people in the US and the UK who are over 300 and even 500 pounds. So yeah he's pretty fat, but there are much fatter people. And I find it hard to believe there's nobody in New Zealand over 300 pounds.

New Zealand are very strict on their immigration policies.

Just for clarification here, they're not renewing his visa due to his health, not his weight, as OP seems intent on spinning it. There is a difference. Weight is fairly arbitrary (up to a point), health on the other hand is likely to factor substantially in the cost of that individual to the state.

I would argue you're trying to spin it in the opposite direction, it is quite obvious about his weight. They or you can say it's about general health but it's obvious, especially after listing his weight, that that is what it is actually about.

Being morbidly obese means his weight will affect his health and that has significant cost implications. Just simple cholesterol-lowering drugs can cost anything from $300 to $1700 per year.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

So apparently this is why universal healthcare is soo much better. If the state deems that your health is too much of a drain on their resources they just force you to move out. Instead of just being denied treatment you get denied treatment, your place to live, and your livelihood. Yes, much better.

 

[Shpongled]

Unless he's like 5'5" or less, 286 isn't that fat. I mean yeah it's still pretty obese, probably even classified as morbidly obese, but there are people in the US and the UK who are over 300 and even 500 pounds. So yeah he's pretty fat, but there are much fatter people. And I find it hard to believe there's nobody in New Zealand over 300 pounds.

New Zealand are very strict on their immigration policies.

Just for clarification here, they're not renewing his visa due to his health, not his weight, as OP seems intent on spinning it. There is a difference. Weight is fairly arbitrary (up to a point), health on the other hand is likely to factor substantially in the cost of that individual to the state.

I would argue you're trying to spin it in the opposite direction, it is quite obvious about his weight. They or you can say it's about general health but it's obvious, especially after listing his weight, that that is what it is actually about.

Why is it obvious?

Seems far more likely to me that a government would deny a visa because they want to avoid massive health costs than because they don't like fat people. And that's the statement they've made, so... we have reason and evidence on the one hand, and... a baseless assumption the New Zealand government don't like fat people on the other.

 

[Atrocious Joystick]

So apparently this is why universal healthcare is soo much better. If the state deems that your health is too much of a drain on their resources they just force you to move out. Instead of just being denied treatment you get denied treatment, your place to live, and your livelihood. Yes, much better.

Obviously a New Zealander wouldn't have been expelled. A universal healthcare system is in place for the citizens of a country. This man is not a citizen. Would you also object if he had been denied further residence due to criminal activities?

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

So apparently this is why universal healthcare is soo much better. If the state deems that your health is too much of a drain on their resources they just force you to move out. Instead of just being denied treatment you get denied treatment, your place to live, and your livelihood. Yes, much better.

Obviously a New Zealander wouldn't have been expelled. A universal healthcare system is in place for the citizens of a country. This man is not a citizen. Would you also object if he had been denied further residence due to criminal activities?

So according to you, being fat and being a criminal are equitable offenses?

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

So apparently this is why universal healthcare is soo much better. If the state deems that your health is too much of a drain on their resources they just force you to move out. Instead of just being denied treatment you get denied treatment, your place to live, and your livelihood. Yes, much better.

New York will be the first city to do this, guaranteed. California will probably follow so they don't look like they're "behind".
I'm sure there will be a riot of certain ethnicities who eat large meals and live in the NYC area if this ever happens.

 

[shootthebandit]

So apparently this is why universal healthcare is soo much better. If the state deems that your health is too much of a drain on their resources they just force you to move out. Instead of just being denied treatment you get denied treatment, your place to live, and your livelihood. Yes, much better.

Obviously a New Zealander wouldn't have been expelled. A universal healthcare system is in place for the citizens of a country. This man is not a citizen. Would you also object if he had been denied further residence due to criminal activities?

I agree. The UK is facing a common problem at the minute with "health tourists". As much as i would like everyone to use the facilities they simply cant handle it. And it should really go to a UK citizen who pays taxes which contribute to it

Its still better than a private health system in which the poor are denied treatment or people dont get insured for care because they have a "pre-existing condition"

 

[Meatspinner]

Quoting for clarity

Mr Buitenhuis and his wife, Marthie, moved from South Africa to Christchurch in 2007. At the time, the chef weighed 160kg.

Funny how it wasn't an issue until now

 

[PBMcNair]

Does anyone have any info on his age ? The article says he's been in the country for 6 year, and has lost weight. So the only explanations I can think of are :

1. Some kind of policy change

2. His age moving him to a different category, with different standards.

Assuming its not a some kind of paperwork cock-up.

 

[Atrocious Joystick]

.

/quote]

So according to you, being fat and being a criminal are equitable offenses?

No of course not and you should understand that. My point is that a citizen of New Zealand has a right to reside in NZ and use its public resources. A non-citizen does not have that right and it stands a pretty obvious thing that one should only accept immigrants that will not be a burden to the country. This was not the case of a citizen being tossed out because he was too fat because death panels and evil socialists. It was the case of a man from a different country being so fat he could be expected to burden NZ's healthcare service. But it could also have been the case of a man for example having a bad history of fire safety. He always leaves the oven on and has no plans on stopping because of reasons. If this bizarre case had been true, would you use it as an argument against public firefighter services?

 

[bjj hero]

So apparently this is why universal healthcare is soo much better. If the state deems that your health is too much of a drain on their resources they just force you to move out. Instead of just being denied treatment you get denied treatment, your place to live, and your livelihood. Yes, much better.

Obviously a New Zealander wouldn't have been expelled. A universal healthcare system is in place for the citizens of a country. This man is not a citizen. Would you also object if he had been denied further residence due to criminal activities?

So according to you, being fat and being a criminal are equitable offenses?

Way to dodge the question, bravo. Criminal can mean a lot of different things. It swings from conviction for dodging taxes, caught with cannabis to things like rape, murder, arson.

If i have a conviction for possession of cannabis im unlikely to get an american visa. Does it still seem like an unreasonable question?

Universal health care is unversal to its citizens, this guy is not a citizen. If he was they would have no say on whether he can live in NZ.