Family faces deportation over son's pre-existing kidney disease

Wednesday, 10 January 2018

The von Metzinger family, of Dunedin, are about to be deported back to South Africa because Ethan, third from left, has a kidney complaint.

A South African family is about to be deported over a medical condition they have offered to self-fund.

Meet the von Metzinger family: Steven and Joan, and their children Travis, 18, and Ethan, 15.

The family moved to New Zealand nine years ago and settled in Dunedin.

Now that life is under threat after Immigration NZ (INZ) declined their appeal to remain in their adopted country.

That was because of a Ethan's pre-existing kidney condition. He may need a kidney transplant.

INZ operations director Peter Elms, in a statement, said Von Metzinger was declined a residence visa in February 2014.

INZ said family's visa application had not declared that son, Ethan, had a chronic kidney disease that was highly likely to require future surgery and treatment.

However, Steven Von Metzinger said that on legal advice Ethan was not included in the family's visa application so his condition was not a consideration.

The decision to decline the residency application was upheld after an appeal to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal in 2015. Subsequent appeals failed.

All non-New Zealanders coming to the country must have an acceptable standard of health so they do not impose undue costs on the public health system.

Travis von Metzinger, a University of Otago student, said his young brother was coping with the news 'quite well, we are a family and we stick together'.

'He didn't ask for the kidney problem he was just born with it.'

He maintained the family was honest about Ethan's health issues, and 'we've been penalised for being honest'.

His business consultant father, in the nine years the family has been in New Zealand, had paid $300,000 in tax and could pay for the operation, estimated to cost up to $200,000.

Steven Von Metzinger said there should be a process for allowing him to pay for his son's care.

Travis von Metzinger launched an online petition to remain in New Zealand, which has attracted over 8000 signatures.

Until then the family have one-way tickets booked for January 27.

Travis said he spent half of his life in New Zealand and wanted to remain in his adopted country.

'I am more a Kiwi than a South African'.