Unwell toddler's parents granted NZ residency

Friday, 24 November 2017

A desperately-ill two-year-old New Zealand born girl can now stay thanks to the Immigration Minister granting her Tongan parents residency.

The girl's family pleaded for residency because she is so unwell, she would likely die if she wasn't allowed to remain in New Zealand.

Moriah suffers from disorders including severely reduced muscle strength, a hole in her heart and high aspiration risk.

Born in Auckland, Moriah has required constant medical and hospital care since birth but her parent's long term work visas were set to expire forcing a move back to Tonga, RNZ reported.

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With Moriah in and out of hospital over the last few months, mother Maggie Tu'inukuafe-Lupeitu'u said it was like a 'ticking bomb' waiting on an appeal to the Immigration Minister.

The family's visas were set to expire in March next year.

Moriah's family collected hundreds of petition signatures from friends, family and church congregation members as well as receiving letters from Tonga's Ministry of Health and doctors at Starship Hospital supporting their residency applications.

It was likely Moriah would die if she moved to Tonga which does not have specialist medical care.

'Every day was like a threat to me and my family thinking my daughter is not going to be able to live here,' Tu'inukuafe-Lupeitu'u said.

On Wednesday the family received a letter from Associate Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi confirming they would be granted residency providing her and her husband and son met health, police and good character requirements. 

'I felt like all the burdens were lifted away, I know my daughter will be able to be safe and will be able to be looked after by all the doctors that she needs.'

Her family was 'over the moon' they could stay in New Zealand. 

'We couldn't wait to actually tell our whole church, because the whole church was behind everything as well.

A 'thank you' email would be written to each person who signed their petition.

'Because of everyone's support, that's the reason why we're able to be here, with my daughter to have that medical care that she needs.'

A spokeswoman for Kris Faafoi said as policy, no comment would be made on the family's ongoing residency process.