A six year battle has come to an end for the immigrant Hungarian Kerekes family who have won the right to stay and work in Kāpiti.
Kāpiti mayor Janet Holborow says today’s decision by Associate Immigration Minister Phil Twyford to grant a Ministerial Special Discretion to allow Ivett Kerekes, her husband Andras Laszlo and their three sons residency was a tribute to the family and to their community.
The Kāpiti family’s six-year bid to stay in the country is finally over. It was just last week their residency application was rejected by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
Mayor Holborow, along with local MPs and a 50,000+ strong petition had the desired effect.
“I want to thank our entire community for rallying round the Kerekes Laszlo family who have made such a positive contribution to the cultural richness of Kāpiti.
“I want to also thank our MPs and our Chamber of Commerce who have shown their support throughout. This is a wonderful outcome for the family and for Kāpiti,” says Mayor Holborow.
Ōtaki MP Terisa Ngobi says the outcome is fantastic news.
“I was stoked to let the Kerekes Laszlo family know they have been granted residency. They are grateful to Minister Twyford and all the support around New Zealand – people who came from near and far to show their support and sign the petition.”
