An Auckland family’s desperate fight to stop their aunt Loasi Latu from being deported has paid off.
The Tongan migrant — who overstayed her student visa in New Zealand by 20 years — has been granted a temporary five-year visa by the Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk.
The ministerial decision followed months of campaigning by family, friends, and members of the community to keep her here, to continue looking after her disabled brother.
The family received the news in an email late last night.
“I want to thank God,” Latu said. “Thank you to all my family and all the people who helped me.”
The intervention from the minister meant Latu could continue caring for brother Viliami Takapautolo, who was completely reliant on her.
He suffered from an intellectual disability, couldn’t speak or eat, and has seizures.
“I don’t think any words can express how i’m feeling right now,” said nephew Otako Kaufus.
“We’re grateful and just really tired, to be honest.”
Latu and her husband, who has also been living in the country without a visa, had been given until last Friday to leave the country voluntarily.
Penk initially rejected their requests to intervene, sparking criticism from opponents and media attention.
He told 1News in a statement today that he had received new information from a medical professional.
The family provided a letter by an Auckland doctor, warning that deporting Latu and placing Takapautolo into a residential facility could be life-threatening.
Latu’s niece Karina Kaufusi said the family were no longer living in fear.
“They literally have saved my uncle’s life,” she said. “Over the past few weeks it’s had a massive toll on my family, across three generations.
“Although it wasn’t the permanent residency that we were hoping for, it does give us time to work with Immigration New Zealand and our lawyers to look for a more long-term solution.”
She said the breakthrough was result of a collective effort.
“We want to specifically thank and acknowledge those people who have helped our case,” she said.
“Honourable Phil Twyford, Ricardo Menéndez March, Rachel Mason and Juliette Strickett, who have been on this whole journey, as well as the Lane Neave Immigration team, our community leaders, the media, all the churches who have been praying for us, our family and friends, and we want to thank the honourable Chris Penk for taking the time to personally review our case.
“It shows that when there is a case about just humanity and doing what’s right, people will support you and people will stand up,” she said.
