Boochani visa has ‘expired’

A refugee who wrote an award-winning book while being held in detention has overstayed his visa in New Zealand, according to at least one official and the man’s lawyer, in a move that could fuel diplomatic tensions with Australia.

travelled from Papua New Guinea in November on a temporary one-month visa to speak at Christchurch’s literary festival about his book, which details the six years he spent at Australia’s notorious offshore detention camp on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island.

Ben Lomai, a lawyer in Papua New Guinea who has been acting for Boochani and hundreds of other refugees, told Associated Press this week that Boochani had not returned to Papua New Guinea. A New Zealand government official, who was not authorised to speak publicly about the situation but was in a position to know, told Boochani had remained in Christchurch after his visa expired.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has vowed that Boochani will never be allowed to enter Australia, even if New Zealand grants him asylum. Typically New Zealanders and Australians are free to live and work in both countries under a mutual agreement.

A statement from Jacinda Ardern’s office to appeared to add further confirmation Boochani remains in New Zealand. It said the prime minister doesn’t believe that Boochani remaining in the country will cause any problems for New Zealand’s close relationship with Australia.

Behrouz Boochani