Immigration officials have confirmed that controversial former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has been granted a visa to enter New Zealand.
Tyson, who has been convicted and jailed for rape, is planning to come to Auckland in November as part of a motivational roadshow.
Earlier this week Tyson's tour promoter said a visa had been granted, but this was denied by Immigration New Zealand.
However, an Immigration New Zealand spokeswoman told NZ Newswire on Saturday afternoon that Tyson's visa had since been confirmed from Los Angeles.
Officials earlier said they would allow Tyson to apply for a visa under a section of the Immigration Act that allows exceptions for people not normally eligible for visas.
Immigration laws stipulate that no one who has been sentenced to five years or more in prison can be given one.
Tyson was sentenced to six years in prison in 1992 for the rape of an 18-year-old woman in the US.
The Day of the Champions event is scheduled to be held at Auckland's Vector Arena on November 15.
