A daughter of the man behind a scheme in which false passports and visas were alleged to have been sold to overstayers described him today as her hero.
Gerard Teoi Otimi, 63, a south Auckland spraypainter, was remanded on bail when he appeared in Manukau District Court today.
Otimi, from Mangere, faced three charges that, by deception and without claim of right, he caused a loss valued at $500 in each instance.
Outside court, daughter Shilo Otimi said her father was standing up for Pacific Islanders and other ethnic minorities.
"I'm so proud of him, he's my hero," she said.
"These people are suffering and no one is talking about it."
She said those who spoke about deception didn't know the full story.
"That's why my father wants this to be investigated, so it comes out."
The charges concerned alleged offence between about June 13 and about June 18 and involved five complainants.
Otimi entered no plea and was remanded to reappear on August 5 for a pre-depositions hearing, with one bail condition being that he surrender his passport.
As his case was called, his sister, Alice Otimi, sang a karanga, while Shilo Otimi accompanied him from the public gallery before giving him a kiss and returning to the back of the courtroom.
Earlier, before the court was in session, Otimi objected to the presence of cameras.
He told journalists that "the news media have done so much damage" in relation to the case and that he had brought his own cameraman.
However, community magistrate Rae Brooker said applications for official media to record the proceedings had been granted.
One application by unofficial media had been declined.
Ms Brooker advised Otimi, who represented himself, that he should get legal advice before his next appearance.
Otimi's arrest yesterday came after police searched three properties associated with him.
His scheme involved people paying $500 for residency papers issued in the name of a Maori hapu.
Overstayers, mainly from the Pacific Islands, were allegedly told they could remain in New Zealand under the hapu's protection.
Otimi had about two dozen supporters in court, including Amato Akarana-Rewi, who tried to approach him as the latter stood near the dock but was turned away by a police officer.
Outside court, Mr Akarana-Rewi said the court had no jurisdiction over tikanga Maori (Maori customs and traditions).
"It has no right at all," he said.
"Statute is void to the sovereign Maori nation."
He described the charges Otimi faces as "all bullshit", adding: "There's no validity in it at all."
In Parliament, Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman was questioned by reporters about the case and whether an amnesty for overstayers might help police investigations.
"We haven't been approached by the police and we're not considering it," Dr Coleman said.
