Transcript
In his apartment in Kelston, Lalit Narayan cares for his son Sagar with the help of his three other children.
"We have to look after him. If I have to work, my sons look after him. Most of the time you have to look him to go and shower, to remind him everything. He can't live by himself."
Lalit Narayan came to New Zealand in 2008 and got citizenship but he left Sagar in the care of his parents in Fiji.
Soon after his mother died and his father grew ill so Mr Narayan moved Sagar to Auckland, where he was able to stay on various short term visas.
He applied for permanent residency but was denied and Sagar has been told to leave the country by Friday.
Mr Narayan says he has no family left in Fiji to look after him and to go back with Sagar would mean abandoning his three other children, who are all New Zealand citizens.
"We have got no place to take Sagar back to Fiji and Sagar can't look after by himself. He has a mental disability. We have to remind each and everything for him to stay by himself. If he's going to go by himself he's going to die, he's going to cry and everything. He's not going to survive by himself."
Immigration Lawyer Alastair McClymont says Sagar's application was denied because of a 14-thousand dollar cost to the government to educate him.
But he argues that because Sagar is now 20 and no longer in the education system, he won't be a cost.
He says after approaching the Fijian Government and enquiries by advocacy organisation IHC, it appears the only option for Sagar in Fiji would be hospital for the rest of his life.
"He's an intellectually disabled 20 year old who's able to things by himself in the home with his family. He doesn't need any residential care here in New Zealand but that will be the outcome for him if he goes to Fiji."
Mr McClymont says there are few options left.
"If Sagar is detained then there is a possibility of a judicial review of that through the High Court looking at New Zealand's obligations to various international conventions. Immigration New Zealand claimed that they've considered Sagar's rights under that convention but that could be challenged in the High Court. But you know this family, their resources are very limited so we're hoping to have to avoid that."
Immigration New Zealand would not comment, saying the case is now before the minister.
RNZ was also unable to contact the office of caretaker Immigration minister Michael Woodhouse.
Lalit Narayan says he's hopeful things may change before Friday with his local MP, Labour's Carmel Sepuloni, writting a letter of support.
All hope is on the new Immigration Minister due to be announced today.
"I would please to him if he could give my sone residence for her. I'm going to look after my son. Only he will stay in New Zealand with my family with my kids and with me. We do not want anybody taxpayers' money, don't want anything from them. I can look after my son. For twenty years now I can look after my son. That's all I want."
Lalit Narayan says he does not know what will happen if things don't change by the week's end.
