New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has slammed an "offensive" suggestion Behrouz Boochani benefited from a politicised process to enter the country, where he is reportedly bidding for asylum.
Opposition immigration spokesman Stuart Smith made the sensational claim while questioning the government over the whereabouts of the acclaimed author and refugee.
Mr Boochani travelled to New Zealand in November, ending a marathon stay in Australia's offshore detention regime by accepting an invitation for a speaking engagement in Christchurch.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) granted the Iranian-born man a one-month visitor visa.
Almost six months later, Mr Boochani is understood to remain in New Zealand awaiting a decision on that application, which is lawful.
Behrouz Boochani on Manus Island. Source: AAP
New Zealand law prohibits INZ or government ministers from speaking about asylum bids, or even whether an application exists.
On Monday, Mr Smith suggested Mr Boochani was only let into New Zealand because he had "political friends in New Zealand in the Green party and the Labour party".
"I deeply suspect there was interference from further up the ladder or influence because of Boochani's political connections," he told Radio NZ.
In response, Ms Ardern said the law prevented her commenting on Mr Boochani's case but Mr Smith's claims were "offensive".
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks during a post-Cabinet media conference. Source: Getty
"I'm not going to act outside of the law but I will call out a statement which I think questions the integrity of our immigration system, which is very robust in New Zealand, and indeed the integrity of parliamentarians," she said.
The Greens also attacked the suggestion, saying the process was "rightfully independent".
"Any suggestion otherwise is wrong and baseless," a spokeswoman said.
A spokeswoman for Mr Smith declined to offer evidence to back up his claims, but the Kaikoura MP stood by them.
Mr Smith pointed to an interview last year when Mr Boochani pledged not to return to Papua New Guinea as evidence Mr Boochani falsified his original visa application.
"If [INZ] do their job properly his [asylum] application would fail on the grounds that he filled out a visa incorrectly when he came," he said.
"On the face of it, he should not have been allowed in."
Human rights organisations lauded Mr Boochani's departure from Papua New Guinea back in November.
The 36-year-old conducted a number of speaking engagements, including the sold-out Word Christchurch event which sponsored his trip, in New Zealand prior to the expiry of his visitor visa.
Mr Boochani told AAP last year that in New Zealand he experienced "exactly the opposite of what I experienced on Manus Island", where he was incarcerated for four years after attempting to seek asylum in Australia.
"In Manus I experienced violence. Cruelty. Humiliation," he said.
"In New Zealand, I'm welcomed by people. I've experienced kindness.
"Many people have stopped me in the streets to show their kindness."
