Fireman in Nelson fight faces ‘unfair’ deportation
An online petition is pushing for a volunteer firefighter fighting the Nelson blaze to be spared deportation.
The “Stop the Deportation of Steve Webster from NZ” petition was set up on Change.org by friend and former volunteer firefighter Ken Mahon.
Mahon said he began the online petition at 3pm on Saturday — without telling Webster — after he saw a new social media photo of Webster all dirty from fighting the Tasman fires and decided he had to do something.
“Here’s this guy busting his gut for a country that wants to throw him out. I just thought I’ve had enough of this good guy being treated badly.”
Mahon said he has known Webster for three years through his involvement in the fire service.
“He is a real top bloke.” As well as being a volunteer firefighter, he would help anyone with anything — from fundraising to shifting house, Mahon said.
The petition says Webster has been part of the Nelson and Stoke Fire Brigades for years. “He is a very active member and as can be seen is involved in fighting the current fires — and the Immigration people want to send him and his family back to England,” it states. “Everyone get behind this man. We need people like him in NZ.”
The petition, which by late last night had received close to 25,000 signatures, is addressed to Minister of Immigration Iain Lees-Galloway.
Steve and Gail Webster moved to Nelson from Britain in 2012 with their two teenage daughters.
The couple own Earthbloom Flower Shop in Nelson and Steve sells cars.
In 2016 the Nelson Weekly reported the family had their bid for permanent residency turned down in early April.
They were given an essential work skills visa but Mahon said the family were now again facing a fight with Immigration NZ. “They have worked very hard at getting their business up and running but unfortunately it hasn’t met the requirements by Immigration in the timeframe,” he said.
Immigration NZ manager Michael Carley said the Websters would have the chance to apply for further visas before their work visas expired in July.
Carley said: “There is no compliance action planned against the family as they’re all lawfully in New Zealand.”
Webster was unavailable for comment because he was on fire duty.