Albert Buitenhuis New Zealand chef deemed too fat to live in the country Country: New Zealand

Albert Buitenhuis: A Chef from New Zealand, Deemed Too Fat to Live in the Country

Albert Buitenhuis has been living in New Zealand since 2007, having moved there from South Africa. He has never committed any crimes or violated any laws, but apparently, that was not enough to prevent him from being deported. Albert is a big man, weighing 130 kg, and he admits that he was 30 kg lighter six years ago before gaining weight after quitting smoking. Unfortunately, his weight turned out to be prohibited for...living in the country. As absurd as it may sound, Albert Buitenhuis was deemed "too fat to live in New Zealand." Interestingly, when Albert arrived in the country in 2007, his weight was not an issue (although he claims to have gained weight later on). He found work as a chef and was unaware that the authorities had passed a law regulating the entry of obese people into the country. When he needed to renew his work visa, he was denied. These regulations are related to New Zealand's recent rise in obesity rates among its population. As a result, the New Zealand government decided to combat its citizens' excess weight through various measures, including restrictions on the entry of overweight individuals into the country. Albert and his wife, Martie, were devastated. Aside from the humiliation Albert experienced, they were essentially shown the door, and no matter what they tried, the situation had already occurred and would not be easily forgotten. Of course, they filed an application with the Ministry of Immigration and gathered the necessary documents, while the authorities granted Albert 26 weeks to "get himself in shape." Eventually, their application was reviewed, and Albert was allowed to stay in the country, but neither he nor his wife felt any joy. In his personal blog, Albert wrote that, despite the relief, they would very much like to find a way to forget this unpleasant incident. Today, Albert, fearful of the authorities, is rapidly losing weight. He has already shed a significant amount and plans to continue losing, but the happiness of parting with the kilograms is still elusive. In the meantime, the Immigration Department stated that "it is important for all migrants to have an acceptable level of health to minimize costs and demands on New Zealand's healthcare services."