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| South African chef 'too fat' to live in New Zealand | South African chef 'too fat' to live in New Zealand |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Authorities in New Zealand have told a South African chef he is too fat to be allowed to live in the country. | 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". | 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. | |
| New Zealand has one of the highest obesity rates in the developed world, with nearly 30% of people overweight. | New Zealand has one of the highest obesity rates in the developed world, with nearly 30% of people overweight. |
| Mr Buitenhuis and his wife, Marthie, moved from South Africa to Christchurch in 2007. At the time, the chef weighed 160kg. | Mr Buitenhuis and his wife, Marthie, moved from South Africa to Christchurch in 2007. At the time, the chef weighed 160kg. |
| Until now, their annual work visas had been renewed with "very little problem", his wife said. | Until now, their annual work visas had been renewed with "very little problem", his wife said. |
| "We applied year after year and there were no issues," she said. | "We applied year after year and there were no issues," she said. |
| "They never mentioned Albert's weight or his health once and he was a lot heavier then." | "They never mentioned Albert's weight or his health once and he was a lot heavier then." |
| But in early May, the couple was told their work visas had been declined because of Mr Buitenhuis's weight. | But in early May, the couple was told their work visas had been declined because of Mr Buitenhuis's weight. |
| "The irony is that at the moment he weighs less than when we first arrived in New Zealand and also less than in his first medical, which was accepted by [immigration authorities]," his wife said. | "The irony is that at the moment he weighs less than when we first arrived in New Zealand and also less than in his first medical, which was accepted by [immigration authorities]," his wife said. |
| The couple has appealed to New Zealand's immigration minister, citing the chef's recent weight loss. | The couple has appealed to New Zealand's immigration minister, citing the chef's recent weight loss. |
| An immigration spokesman said Mr Buitenhuis's application had been rejected because his obesity put him at "significant risk" of complications including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. | An immigration spokesman said Mr Buitenhuis's application had been rejected because his obesity put him at "significant risk" of complications including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. |
| "It is important that all migrants have an acceptable standard of health to minimise costs and demands on New Zealand's health services," he said. | "It is important that all migrants have an acceptable standard of health to minimise costs and demands on New Zealand's health services," he said. |