A 50-year-old South African chef faces deportation from New Zealand because he’s too fat.
Immigration officials are worried that Albert Buitenhuis — who is 5 feet 8 inches and weighs about 286 pounds — could one day be a burden on taxpayers and have decided he no longer has “an acceptable standard of health,” Sky News reported.
An Immigration spokesman said Mr. Buitenhuis was rejected because his weight put him at “significant risk” of medical complications.
“It is important that all migrants have an acceptable standard of health to minimize costs and demands on New Zealand’s health services,” the spokesman said, according to the report.
Mr. Buitenhuis said he agrees with the policy but said nothing about his weight was mentioned when he first came to the country, despite the fact that he weighed even more back then.
Mr. Buitenhuis said he has not had any expensive medical treatment since moving to New Zealand six years ago, but he admits that he will need knee surgery in the future, Sky News reported.
He and his wife plan to appeal the decision.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.