Another weird decision?

We are still awaiting the results of the inquiry into why Shane Jones gave out NZ citizenship to an alleged criminal from China. And now the Herald reports another strange decision from Jones:

Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman is seeking advice from officials after it was revealed that an immigrant jailed for killing his daughter had been given a work permit rather than a deportation order.

Garth Duwayne Abbott was found guilty of the manslaughter of his 9-year-old daughter, Britney, in 2007.

The girl died after Abbott drove his four-wheel-drive off a 150m slope at Mt Wellington in August 2005. His other daughter, Shirvaun, 4, was injured but survived. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. …

An Immigration NZ spokeswoman confirmed Abbott was granted a work permit by former associate Immigration Minister Shane Jones.

Dr Coleman said it was fair to ask why Abbott had been granted a work permit, when normal practice dictated an immigrant released from jail would be deported.

He killed his daughter, and we gave him a work permit?

Also note that because Labour changed the law in the early 2000s he served only 19 months of a 54 month sentence – just one third.