NZ mulls harsher law against refugee boat arrivals – despite no refugee boats ever having arrived

Opponents claim that bill put forward by Labour government amounts to fear-mongering in an election year

Large groups of asylum seekers arriving to New Zealand by sea could be detained in prison for up to 28 days without a warrant, under a law change that was proposed even though a refugee boat has never reached the country.

The bill - put forward by the Labour government - passed its first reading on Wednesday. It also determines that asylum seekers who arrive in groups of 30 or more by sea would have no possibility of attaining the entry permissions or temporary visas conferred on other travellers to New Zealand - including asylum seekers who enter the country by air.