A French woman studying in New Zealand has been ordered to leave the country because she is pregnant, despite medical insurance picking up all of her costs.
Virginie Breuzard, 28, will be forced to return to France in three weeks to have her baby there before returning, The Dominion Post reported.
Ms Breuzard came to New Zealand in September to complete a six-month NZQA-registered aromatherapy course in Nelson, the only one of its kind available in the Asia-Pacific region.
She sent Immigration New Zealand a letter from her insurer and Nelson Hospital stating that medical costs for her pregnancy would be met.
However, Immigration NZ refused her a study visa because she did not meet health requirements and she would need to leave the country to give birth.
She said it was discrimination.
"I'm very angry," she said. "And because I've told the truth about being pregnant, they are kicking me out."
Immigration NZ says pregnant visitors "are not considered to have an acceptable standard of health as it is likely you will impose significant costs and demands on New Zealand's health services".
An Immigration spokesman said the policy limited the demand on hospitals and whether a person had health insurance was irrelevant.
The Government cracked down on foreigners coming here to have babies in 2003 after revelations expectant mothers were coming here to get New Zealand citizenship for their children.
