Lawyer campaigns on behalf of David Irving

Immigration lawyer Colin Amery says he will try to get controversial historian David Irving into New Zealand

16 September 2004

The immigration lawyer who battled unsuccessfully on behalf of Iranian overstayer Saied Ghanbari is now taking up the cudgels on behalf of Holocaust denier David Irving.

The controversial historian has been invited to address the National Press Club.

Lawyer Colin Amery has requested more details of the ban under the Official Information Act, but has not yet received a reply.

He believes it is an issue of free speech.

Colin Amery says he has managed to confirm Mr Irving has been banned from entering the country.

However Mr Amery says that will not stop him trying.

He says he is having trouble getting the official details on which to base a challenge, after asking under the Official Information Act for more information.

He says he has not had the courtesy of a reply, or any response whatsoever.

In the past, the Government has said that given the fact that the historian has been banned by other countries, it would refuse him entry.

However, Mr Irving says his deportation from Canada 13 years ago was merely a technical one.

David Irving plans to turn up to the Qantas counter at LA airport this evening and present his ticket for New Zealand.

Mr Amery says Mr Irving expects to be turned away.

Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen told Newstalk ZB that if Mr Irving tries to force his way on to a plane, that simply shows that he has little respect for the rule of law.

He says that if need be, Irving will be stopped from boarding a plane by the "biggest stewardess they can find".

Colin Amery says Mr Irving is not planning to deal with the Holocaust issue in his speech.

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