Korean Job Discussion Forums

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

New Zealand immigration officials are keeping a U.K. wife from joining her husband "down under" because they say she is too fat, the Daily Mail reports.

Click here to read the full report in the Daily Mail.

British citizens Rowan Trezise, 33, and Richie Trezise, 35, are living apart as she tries desperately to shed the pounds needed to comply with New Zealand guidelines that immigrants maintain a healthy BMI, or body mass index.

BMI is a weight-height ratio that estimates percentage of body fat. The New Zealand Immigration Service requires all applicants to undergo a complete medical examination, which includes body size measures like "waist circumference."

The regulations were supposedly put into place for budget reasons. The country's health care system cannot afford to open its doors to overweight immigrants, a spokesman for New Zealand's Fight the Obesity Epidemic explained to the Daily Mail.

Over half of New Zealand adults and nearly one-third of New Zealand children are already overweight or obese, according to the group. Those figures are expected to rise, as are the health problems associated with being overweight, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Richie Trezise managed to trim two inches off his waistline, the Daily Mail reports, bringing his BMI down and allowing him to take the first step toward the couple's dream of resettling in New Zealand.

Rowan Trezise is alone at home and still struggling.

In an interview with the paper, Richie Trezise admitted his wife is having trouble losing the weight � a difficulty which may force the couple to abandon their overseas plans and stay in the U.K. for good.

They've set Christmas as their deadline.

Percy Nickets · Joined: 18 May 2006

Weird

Tony_Balony · Joined: 12 Apr 2007

Yea, thats pretty off. I agree.

renzobenzo1 · Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Location: Suji, Yongin

That's a shocker right there...

The NZ government has spent a truckload over the last 5 years though, encouraging people to exercise more, make healthier diet choices and the like. Mass marketing and advertising campaigns etc.
They obviously see the costs of obesity related illnesses to be far greater than any ethical and precautionary actions they can take.

Ballsy move for little old NZ though.

xtchr · Joined: 23 Nov 2004

Not goofy, but sensible.

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

Yeah, sucks for the couple, but it's a sensible idea. Glad to see a government taking the initiative and discouraging residents and visitors from being bloated, unhealthy, and unsightly. No different than a country trying to curb smoking or drug use.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Oh, it would be a hoot to see this kind of legislation come up in the USA. Oh, the uproar!

mateomiguel · Joined: 16 May 2005

That guy should be thanking the government. He's going to get a more attractive, slimmer wife out of this 'terrible ordeal'.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Big people scare away the sheep. They just can't have that.

Corky · Joined: 06 Jan 2004

But what if she look like this:

Czarjorge · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 1:39 am Post subject:

Roch · Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

VanIslander · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 1:53 am Post subject:

such discrimination is wrong beyond belief - is the story a joke?

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

If all the fatties went to New Zealand the earth would spin of it's axis and fall into the sun. Thank you New Zealand for saving us from disaster.

yushin · Joined: 14 Oct 2006

good idea...nz has more than enough fatties already...especially the women...time to turn things around...probably the most obese nation on earth...(I knew you guys were tops at something!)