Indian couple in New Zealand seeks help to avoid deportation

An Indian couple in New Zealand facing deportation has approached a local Member of Parliament (MP) for help.

Bhuvnesh Mehta and Jaswinder Kaur, of Hastings in Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's North Island, are facing deportation after various visa applications submitted by them were declined by Immigration New Zealand last year.

The couple claimed that they were facing the ordeal because of a series of mistakes made by law firm Luscombe Legal, the New Zealand Herald reported Thursday.

The two had also submitted an official complaint with the New Zealand Law Society regarding the matter.

They claim that Luscombe Legal gave them inadequate advice when documentation and applications were sent to Immigration New Zealand.

The law firm has, however, declined to comment as it is the subject of a complaint.

The country's immigration ministry earlier this month said the complaint would not affect the couple's status as overstayers and advised them to leave the country immediately.

The couple, however, is determined to stay in the country and have appealed to Tukituki MP Craig Foss to assist them in approaching Minister of Immigration Nikki Kaye.

An Auckland-based lawyer, acting on behalf of the pair, states that the justification for Kaye to intervene would be on "moral grounds".

Mehta and Kaur also enclosed a copy of the complaint to the Law Society with the submission.

The couple said they had not heard from Foss yet and had no idea what Foss was going to say about this matter.

The duo are hoping that the MP will contact them soon.

Mehta said the situation has been "very stressful".

"We are just hoping for justice in our favour," Mehta was quoted as saying.

Though Foss could not be reached, his office confirmed the submission had been received.