26 Jan 2017

Labour demands answers on Thiel citizenship decision

From Morning Report, 7:30 am on 26 January 2017

Cabinet Minister Nathan Guy has confirmed he granted controversial American billionaire Peter Thiel citizenship five years ago on the advice of officials.

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Photo: AFP

Mr Guy was Internal Affairs Minister at the time.  

He has confirmed Mr Thiel was granted citizenship under a provision of the Citizenship Act which circumvents residency requirements.

Mr Thiel who is now an adviser to US President Donald Trump, was granted citizenship on the grounds it was "in the public interest due to exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian or other nature''.

Mr Guy would not come on Morning Report today, saying he did not recall the application and also citing privacy reasons.

Internal Affairs also declined our interview request.