On Tuesday, Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan alerted the Otago Daily Times to 21-year-old liver transplant survivor Maia Matubis’ plight, while throwing his personal support behind the honours pupil’s continued bid for residency through Immigration NZ (INZ).
Last week Miss Matubis learnt she would have to return alone to the Philippines in August when her current visitor visa expires, after her most recent appeal for residency was declined.
Miss Matubis arrived in New Zealand from the Philippines on a dependant’s student visa in 2016, joining her permanent resident mother and stepfather, Jesselou and Salvador Gamis, and half-sister Zara (3), in Auckland.
The family has since moved to Balclutha, where Mr and Mrs Gamis work at the Otago Corrections Facility.
Miss Matubis has enjoyed good health since her transplant 20 years ago, thanks to treatment costing between $1500 and $3200 a year, paid for by her family.
Yesterday she told the ODT she and her family had been given fresh hope, after her story went viral and caught the eye of New Zealand’s 80,000-strong Filipino community.
‘‘My Mum received an online message from [Philippines Ambassador to NZ] Jesus Domingo, offering his support.
‘‘There are also plans for a petition set up by the Filipino community, so we feel very encouraged.’’
Miss Matubis said she and her family had been ‘‘going round in circles’’ negotiating with INZ, but would now consider fresh avenues of appeal raised by supporters.
In a written response from the agency, border and visa operations general manager Nicola Hogg said Miss Matubis’ 2018 application for residency had been declined on a cost basis.
‘‘[The] . . . applicant’s medical condition, which required lifelong medication, was likely to impose significant costs or demands on the New Zealand health system.’’
A subsequent Immigration and Protection Tribunal appeal was declined on a ‘‘lodgement’’ technicality.
A second, 2019 application for residency was declined on medical grounds, and confirmed last week by the tribunal following the most recent appeal.
Mr Cadogan said the reaction from the wider New Zealand public had ‘‘given him heart’’.
‘‘This is clearly a decision everyday Kiwis see as repugnant and grossly unfair.
‘‘Having met Maia and her hard-working family I’ll be advocating to ministers on their behalf during my visit to Wellington this week.’’
He said he was not ‘‘in the blame game’’, but wanted an outcome reflecting ‘‘natural justice’’.
‘‘Immigration has its criteria and technicalities, but this is about giving a promising young lady with a decent, supportive family a fair go.
‘‘Let’s give her a chance to contribute.’’
