New Zealand’s Immigration and Protection Tribunal dismisses the deportation appeal of Lafaele Laoa, a 60-year-old Samoan man who lived in the country under a false identity for 38 years. The tribunal’s decision removes his legal challenge to removal, though Laoa remains in New Zealand after a court-ordered grace period expires.
Outlets report that Laoa entered New Zealand in 1988 using a forged passport under the name Olive Mao. For decades, Immigration New Zealand did not detect the alias; in 2024, police shared identity information with immigration authorities, leading to his detention and subsequent deportation process. Laoa sought ministerial intervention and argued exceptional humanitarian circumstances, including family responsibilities.
The tribunal acknowledges the long duration of residence but concludes that using a false identity and failing to regularize his status for nearly four decades outweigh the humanitarian case presented. It also considers a record of family harm incidents between 2009 and 2020 and finds the claimed support needs can be met through other family and state services. Laoa’s continued stay is linked to an expired September 29 deadline.
