Clutha-Southland National MP Hamish Walker is calling on the new Government to show the same level of compassion to a Queenstown family threatened with deportation as it shows towards Manus Island refugees.
Mr Walker is scheduled to meet Associate Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi tomorrow to discuss the case of Sri Lankan Queenstown residents Dinesha Amarasinghe, her husband Sam Wijerathne, and their three young sons.
The family, having lived in New Zealand for eight years, is facing deportation after Dinesha's application for a work visa renewal was declined due to health issues. Their residency application, submitted in 2013, is on hold.
More than 400 people in the community marched on Sunday to support the family.
Mr Walker said: ''It is now a great opportunity for the new Government to show its compassion or is it only the Manus Island refugees that get the headlines?
''We need to look in our own backyard first, I mean look at Queenstown coming out [on Sunday] to show its support.''
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is pressing the Australian Government to allow New Zealand to take 150 of the 400 refugees on Manus Island, off Papua New Guinea, after the detention centre was closed.
Mr Walker met the Queenstown family again yesterday.
He said Dinesha Amarasinghe, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, could potentially return to work. She has had more than five job offers, while husband Sam has had more than 10 job offers.
''Sam's waiting and willing to work and Dinesha has made huge improvements over the last month or so.
''We've now got the physio, the doctor and the social worker saying she can go back to work.''
Mr Walker said the medication over the last six or seven weeks has improved her condition.
He wants temporary work visas granted for both while they wait to hear the outcome of the humanitarian appeal lodged with the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.
Associate Minister Faafoi cannot comment on the case while that process is ongoing.
''They're in good spirits,'' Mr Walker said. ''They now realise they have the community and most of New Zealand behind them.
''It's having a huge impact on them.''
