New Zealand Set To Turn Chris Brown Away

Following this morning’s news that US singer Chris Brown is heading our way for a national tour this December, it has now been reported that the R&B artist, who had plans to also perform in New Zealand, may be denied entry due to his violent past.

According to NZ Herald, Immigration New Zealand spokesman Marc Piercey confirmed that Brown may be denied entry into the country after he was rejected from entering the UK in 2010.

"If Chris Brown has been excluded from another country he will be ineligible to be granted a visa to enter New Zealand unless given a special direction," Piercey said.

"To date Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has not received any application from the singer to travel to New Zealand."

Under Section 17 of the Immigration Act 2009, a special direction is considered if a person who is not eligible for a visa is allowed exceptions.

The possible ban follows Brown’s very publicly documented physical attack on then-girlfriend and pop star Rihanna in 2009. He was charged with felony assault and later sentenced to community labour, five years probation and given a restraining order which required him to stay away from Rihanna.

Victims advocate Ruth Money, who supports victims and families that have suffered from domestic violence, slammed the announcement of Brown’s NZ tour.

"It's outrageous. We need to send a message to New Zealand citizens and internationally that we do not and will not tolerate domestic violence," Money said.

"He is coming to this country where we've got a really serious domestic violence problem. People, whether he likes it or not, see him as a role model. We don't want that kind of role model here.”

Similarly, spokesman of the White Ribbon campaign, Rob McCann believes the decision will send the wrong message to the public’s youth.

“Young women may think that what Chris Brown did is OK. Because he is behaving like that, it's OK for their boyfriend to behave in that way too," McCann said.

 "I think it's important for our youth that the Government say it's not OK."

However while he is yet to be granted a visa to enter the country, tour promoters released a statement confirming that they were in the process of doing so. 

As Stuff reports, Castor & Ford Tour's Vili Leuga said, "Chris Brown toured Australia in 2011 without any issue so we don't expect any issues gaining entry to New Zealand for this tour."

The news comes just a month after fellow US artist Tyler, The Creator cancelled his Australian shows set to take place this month after he was rumoured to have been denied entry into the country.