A New Zealand Fijian family are praising the Government for granting their cancer-affected mother residency which will allow her to die with dignity and among loved ones.
Associate Immigration Minister Nikki Kaye answered the prayers of the family of Ashia Begam, 59, a Fijian living in Auckland with stage four metastatic breast cancer.
The case follows the death of Sanil Kumar this week after he returned to Fiji. He had wanted to stay in New Zealand for a kidney transplant.
Ms Kaye didn't intervene in that case, but decided Mrs Begam's case was stronger.
The family had been arranging to send her to Fiji before her visitor visa expired next week and were delighted with the news. "We're very pleased," said Ashim, Mrs Begam's son.
Mrs Begam, who has been in New Zealand since 2009, has had applications for two residency visas and one work visa declined. Her children and grandchildren are New Zealand citizens or residents, and her husband is here on a work visa.