A South African national arrested in Hastings this week for immigration breaches and ordered to be deported has been released so he can apply to stay in New Zealand.
The release of Guilliam Stephanus (Steve) Haywood was granted at a special Hastings District Court sitting before Judge Eddie Paul, via video link from a courtroom in Gisborne.
Haywood has been living and working in New Zealand since 2004, but became an illegal alien four years ago through failing to keep up with immigration and residency credentials.
He was apprehended by immigration officials on Tuesday and detained, but was released at the hearing of an Immigration Service application for a deportation Committal Warrant late yesterday afternoon.
There were supporting letters from family members, who include a teenaged daughter at high school, and his bosses at Tumu Timbers. Also in the public gallery were the girls' mother, and the man's partner and her son.