[MotherBear]

These are the offences laid down as possibly needing a character waiver, which would probably hold things up a little while if you need to get one. Have a read through and see if you fit in anywhere. I guess it would depend on what you were protesting about and how INZ look on it. It sounds very lightweight though and quite a long time ago, but you never can tell with that lot. Just plead 'folly of youth'. That'll sort it .

A5.25 Applicants normally ineligible for a residence visa or permit unless granted a character waiver

Applicants who will not normally be issued with a residence visa or granted a residence permit, unless granted a character waiver (see A5.25.1(b) below), include any person who has been:

1. convicted at any time of any offence against the immigration, citizenship or passport laws of any country; or
2. convicted at any time of any offence involving prohibited drugs; or
3. convicted at any time of any offence involving dishonesty; or
4. convicted at any time of any offence of a sexual nature; or
5. convicted at any time of any offence for which they were sentenced to a term of imprisonment (whether the sentence was of immediate effect or was deferred or was suspended in whole or in part); or
6. convicted (whether in New Zealand or not) of an offence committed at any time when the applicant was in New Zealand unlawfully or was the holder of a temporary permit or was exempt under the Act from the requirement to hold a permit, being an offence for which the Court has power to impose imprisonment for a term of 3 months or more; or
7. convicted at any time of any offence involving violence; or
8. convicted at any time during the last five years, of an offence (including a traffic offence), involving dangerous driving, driving having consumed excessive alcohol (including drunk driving and driving with a blood or breath alcohol content in excess of a specified limit) or driving having consumed drugs; or
9. in the course of applying for a New Zealand visa or permit, has made any statement or provided any information, evidence or submission that was false, misleading or forged, or withheld material information; or
10. at any time in a public speech or public comments, or public broadcast, or in publicly distributing or publishing a document:
1. argues that one race or colour is inherently inferior or superior to another race or colour, or
2. used language intended to encourage hostility or ill will against any person or group of persons on the basis of colour, race or ethnic or national origins of that person or group; or
11. has been, or is, a member of (or adheres or has adhered to) any organisation or group of people which (at the time of the person's membership or adherence) had objectives or principles based on:
1. hostility against people or groups of people on the basis of colour, race, or ethnic or national origins, or
2. an assumption that persons of a particular race or colour are inherently inferior or superior to other races or colours.
12. in support of any application by another person for a New Zealand visa or permit, has made any statement or provided any information, evidence or submission that was false, misleading or forged.

Taffy! I didn't know thugs were allowed on this forum.