Tongan Family Receives Temporary Immigration Reprieve After Tsunami Disaster

A Tongan family who lost their home in a devastating tsunami caused by the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai volcano eruption has been granted a 12-month reprieve from deportation in New Zealand. The decision comes after the family faced significant challenges in navigating the country’s immigration system.

Following the catastrophic eruption in January 2022, a tsunami struck Tonga, destroying homes and infrastructure. The family, who had moved to New Zealand in hopes of a better future, saw their lives upended when their home on Tongatapu was flattened.

The father of three had been offered a job at a meatworks in New Zealand, but the offer was later withdrawn. He claimed the company’s lawyer had suggested he had applied for a work visa at a different firm, a claim he denied. The tribunal noted that the man was stunned by the accusation, as he had not applied for any other visa.

His lack of English and limited knowledge of the immigration process made it difficult for him to investigate the claim. He sought help from an immigration adviser, who allegedly did little to assist. As a result, the family’s visas expired, leaving them in legal limbo.

The family, including the mother who worked as a secretary at a business college, had given up their jobs in Tonga to move to New Zealand. The tribunal highlighted the visible destruction of their home, which remains evident in satellite images, and stated that deporting them would be unduly harsh.

The 2022 volcanic eruption was the largest in the region since the 1883 Krakatoa event, and it triggered a devastating tsunami that claimed three lives. The tribunal suggested that the father, who had worked as a prison warder in Tonga for 16 years, could seek employment in New Zealand.

This case underscores the challenges faced by immigrants navigating complex legal systems, especially in the wake of natural disasters. The family’s reprieve offers a temporary reprieve, but their future remains uncertain as they continue to seek stability and security in a new country.