Collins’ bad rap for star
National MP Judith Collins has declared in no uncertain terms that R&B star Chris Brown is not welcome in New Zealand, and can ‘‘bugger off’’.
Brown has not yet obtained the special visa he will need to perform in New Zealand in December – he is technically barred from visiting after being convicted of felony assault in 2009 after he attacked then-girlfriend Rihanna.
New Zealand immigration law requires that people barred from entering other countries obtain a special visa.
Brown was barred from entering Britain in 2010 and Canada in 2015 because of his felony conviction.
Asked on The Paul Henry Show on Friday whether Brown should be allowed into New Zealand, Collins professed ‘‘we’ve got enough wife beaters in this country, he should just bugger off’’.
Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse yesterday said Brown was technically barred from visiting the country.
‘‘The question is one of his conviction for assault. Anybody who has a conviction of that nature, even from a visa waiver country, would be required to apply for a special direction,’’ he said.
Brown’s promoters have said preparations for the visa were under way, and that they envisioned no problems.
Brown, who has amassed more than a billion VEVO views and tens of millions of song sales, last played here in 2008 with Rihanna, not long before the incident.