Common sense wins out
Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman has criticised his department’s initial decision to decline a heavily pregnant Lithuanian tourist’s permit to stay in the country.
Jurga Skiauteris, 29, her husband Robertas, 34, and their six-year-old son, Leonardo, arrived in New Zealand in January on three-month visitor permits.
The family became overstayers when their permits expired on April 2.
Immigration New Zealand rejected two appeals for an extended permit, despite doctors advising that any travel could harm Mrs Skiauteris and her child.
Immigration NZ has since reviewed the decision and the woman has been offered a visitor’s permit allowing her to remain in the country beyond the birth of her child.
“I believe that declining the permit was a poor decision by the department,” Dr Coleman said.
“I am pleased that common sense has prevailed and that the woman has now been issued a permit allowing her to stay in New Zealand.”
While diplomatically worded, that is a Ministerial arse kicking of a Department,