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.
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.
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.
"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.
"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.
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.
South African chef 'too fat'
to live in New Zealand
Nearly 30% of adults are overweight in New
Zealand
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23475583

Bwahahahaha!
So the Zealanders actually have this whack law? I used to think they have adequate health facilities to tackle health problems.
And I thought our Law makers and leaders are alone in this lol

But shah most of these chefs too dey fat o especially those ones enjoying foods costlier than our 1billion naira per year worth of food(that food gej son dey eat wey dey make him look yafuyafu)