Man banned from New Zealand for being too FAT

A CHEF who loves eating as much as cooking has been told he has to get out of New Zealand for being too fat.

Albert Buitenhuis weighs over 20 stone (Pic posed by model)

Albert Buitenhuis, who moved from South Africa to New Zealand with his wife Marthie in 2007, weighs over 20 stone and has been told by immigration officials that he does not have "an acceptable standard of health."

Nearly a THIRD of the country are overweight, making it have one of the highest obesity rates in the developed worlds.

Mr Buitenhuis managed to lose four and a half stone off his weight, but it's not enough for officials to let him remain in the country.

His wife said that up until now he's had no problems with renewing his visa.

She said: "We applied year after year and there were no issues.

“It is important that all migrants have an acceptable standard of health”

Immigration spokesman

"They never mentioned Albert's weight or his health once and he was a lot heavier then."

Ms Buitenhuis added: "The irony is that at the moment he weighs less than when we first arrived in New Zealand and also less than in his first medical, which was accepted by immigration authorities."

An immigration spokesman said his weight would put a strain on health services.

He said: "It is important that all migrants have an acceptable standard of health to minimise costs and demands on New Zealand's health services."

The couple plan to cite his recent weight loss in appealing the decision to throw him out of the country.