Algerian officials help Kiwi mum's custody bid

Mihi Puriri. Photo / Youtube

A New Zealand woman in a custody battle with her estranged husband in Algeria has been helped by local government officials and remains hopeful the family will return to New Zealand soon.

Kaikohe woman Mihi Puriri, 33, says she has not seen her daughters Iman, 5, and Assiya, 2, and son Zakaria, 1, for more than two weeks following a seven-month dispute with her husband, former boxing champion Mohamed Azzaoui, 36.

However, Ms Puriri and a family spokesman, who is also mediating the dispute, believed the couple would be able to negotiate an agreement and return to New Zealand with their children in less than two weeks.

Ms Puriri and her family travelled to Algeria in August because Mr Azzaoui said his father was gravely ill.

But on arrival she discovered he was not sick, said her husband took away the family passports and held them captive an apartment in his hometown of Mostaganem, said the Paris-based family spokesman.

With consular help Ms Puriri left the house, but could not take the children with her, he said.

She had been through several ups and downs since then.

"The good days are when Mohamed is calling making some promise and the bad days are when he doesn't respond at all.''

Last week, Ms Puriri had her visa extended and a senior representative from the Algerian Department of Foreign Affairs has contacted her to offer support, including legal assistance.

"I am still confident that Mohamed and Mihi will be able to reach and agreement that suits both of them and is in the best interests of the children and they'll be departing Algeria in the next week to 10 days.''

"Negotiations are continuing and we applaud Mohamed and Mihi for the efforts they are making.''

Yesterday is Zakaria's first birthday, but she had not been able to speak to him and was devastated to be marking the day alone, said the spokesman.

"She texted him four times yesterday and called and left two messages pleading with him to allow her to see Zakaria. No response, so she rang the family home and they hung up on her.

"She said she will be trying somehow to honour his birthday as best she can and celebrate his birthday as best she can in the environment she's in.'' he said.

There had been little food in the apartment while she was there, said the spokesman and Ms Puriri was also concerned about the emotional effects of the situation on the children.

"She's worried about the impact this is having on the children - whether the family are taking it out on the children and whether they're just being used as pawn in all this.''

Since leaving the apartment she has been taken to hospital in Algiers with frostbite in three toes because of freezing temperatures inside the Mostaganem apartment, and will have permanent nerve damage to two toes, said the spokesman.

Because the family planned to be in Algeria for only six weeks, they had not packed winter clothing, he said.