Desperate Plea to Stay: Auckland Family’s Emotional Battle Against Deportation
An Auckland family is devastated as two beloved members face deportation by Immigration New Zealand.
Loasi Latu and her husband, residents of New Zealand for decades, have been given until Friday to leave voluntarily. This situation is especially dire because Latu is the primary caregiver for her brother Viliami, a New Zealand resident requiring 24/7 support due to his intellectual disability and epilepsy.
Latu, who has been a pillar for her extended family, expressed her fear of being sent back to Tonga after over 20 years in New Zealand. “New Zealand is my home. I’m scared. I don’t want to leave my brother. I am the one who understands him and the one he listens to. All my family is here and my grandkids.”
Family spokesperson Karina Kaufusi, who lives with Latu, described the situation as heartbreaking, stating they turned to RNZ as a last resort. “My family is heartbroken. We have psychological reports indicating the severe impacts this will have not only on my uncle Pila but across three generations. My siblings and I have significant roles in the economy, and she cares for my nieces. Losing their nana would be devastating.”
The couple are considered overstayers, having exceeded their original student visas by over 20 years. They claim they began the residency application process before their visas expired but were misled by an immigration advisor who took their money without applying for residency. They believe proper representation would have secured their residency years ago.
Their 2023 application for permanent residency was declined, but they have since gathered new evidence for a fresh application to Associate Minister Chris Penk. Despite this, Immigration New Zealand insists they must leave even while this new process is underway.
Kaufusi emphasized the dire consequences of deportation, particularly for Pila, who requires constant care. “Putting him in the public healthcare system would cost New Zealand millions and is not culturally appropriate. In Tongan culture, we care for our vulnerable family members ourselves. I might have to give up my career to look after my uncle, which would be a significant loss to the engineering industry that needs more female and Pacific Islander representation.”
Sending Pila to Tonga is not a viable option due to the lack of necessary resources there, and keeping him in the family would drastically change Kaufusi’s life.
The family believes deporting Latu would have severe humanitarian and economic impacts, increasing taxpayer costs for Pila’s care and reducing his quality of life.
RNZ reached out to Immigration New Zealand about the broader consequences of this deportation and the possibility of awaiting the decision on the new application. Immigration did not respond directly but reiterated that Latu and her husband have been unlawfully in the country since 2004 and are subject to deportation.
National compliance manager Stephanie Greathead encouraged them to leave voluntarily, noting they have no further right to appeal. Minister Penk’s spokesperson stated that due to privacy reasons, he could not comment on specific cases but confirmed that requests for ministerial intervention are considered by immigration officials under the Immigration Act.
