Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for two restaurant owners to be allowed to remain in New Zealand after threats of deportation.
Over 10,000 members of the public have signed a petition set up by ACT Party leader David Seymour, who has taken up the cause and is organising a rally on Sunday for the family.
“We actually want people to immigrate to New Zealand, integrate themselves into the community, build businesses and employ people; that's the kind of immigration New Zealanders welcome and now we've got some, our government is trying to stop it.”
Nataliya Shchetkova was told that she and her husband would have to leave the country, after Immigration New Zealand decided that their business, which employed 26 people, did not add significant benefit to the country. The couple came to New Zealand from Ukraine in 2013 and purchased the La Vista restaurant in the beachside Auckland suburb of St Heliers. They have been told to leave the country within six months.
“The amount of support we received from the locals signifies that our story resonates with Kiwis and they find it unjust,” she said, although she wasn’t sure that the petition would have any impact on Immigration New Zealand’s decision.
“We try to do our best and show that we deserve to stay in the country. We provided all the information, what we achieved [doing] business in New Zealand, and the human situation in Ukraine at this moment.”
