A Far North community is rallying behind a migrant who has been given until October 31 to quit the country after losing a long-running residency battle.
Locals so far have raised more than $1100 to help Martyn Payne, who moved to New Zealand from the UK on an entrepreneur's visa in 2005. He bought the then rundown Kapiro Garage on State Highway 10 north of Waipapa, employs five people and the business is said to have a $2 million turnover.
However, he was refused permanent residency in 2011 because of a long-standing heart condition. The cost of treatment has been estimated at $25,000.
Mr Payne had to leave New Zealand but was then granted an eight-month temporary work visa and a chance to appeal. On Tuesday, however, his immigration consultant advised he had again been refused. His only hope now is an appeal to the Immigration Minister, who can over-ride the department on compassionate grounds.
News of Mr Payne's setback spread quickly on social media, with Kerikeri man Jason Christensen starting a campaign urging people to write to Associate Minister Nikki Kaye and donate to an online account to help pay the family's legal costs. More than 20 supporters turned out on Wednesday when TV's Campbell Live show arrived at the garage for a situation update.