Decision to deport girl called cruel

A failed court bid to prevent the deportation of a five-year-old blind Geraldine girl has sparked calls for changes to national immigration policy.

Green MP and Rangitata candidate Mojo Mathers labelled the case ‘‘appalling’’, and said immigration should not rule out people with health issues or disabilities ‘‘solely on the basis of cost’’.

However, the immigration minister says requirements around health are ‘‘entirely appropriate’’.

Mathers’ comments were prompted by a decision to deport Caitlyn Davies back to South Africa.

Caitlyn is blind, suffers from global development delay, and has chronic medical conditions the Immigration Protection Tribunal considered would impose significant costs on New Zealand’s health and education systems.

Mathers said the Greens would change the current rules around deporting people with disability or health conditions.

‘‘It’s particularly cruel to be deporting children with health conditions.

‘‘We should be, and are, better than that,’’ she said. ‘‘While there is a financial cost, it is wrong to split up families who are making a positive contribution to New Zealand and send their children to an uncertain future where their basic needs won’t be met.’’

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said all applicants had the right to have a decision by Immigration New Zealand tested and in this case, the decision was upheld.

‘‘While I have sympathy for the family, immigration policy requires that all individuals coming to New Zealand have an acceptable standard of health. That requirement is entirely appropriate.’’