Illegal migrant's kids in hiding

Three New Zealand-born Chinese children have gone into hiding to avoid being taken into care as their mother mounts a last-minute bid to avoid being sent back to China.

Yueying Ding, 44, arrived in New Zealand on a visitor's permit and has lived here illegally for 10 years.

But last week the Immigration Service caught up with her and she is due to be sent back to Kantong, China, today.

Her husband, Wei Guang Ye, who worked as a painter, was arrested and deported last Christmas Eve.

While living illegally in New Zealand the couple had three children: Willie, 8, Candy, 6 1/2, and Tim, 5.

The youngsters, who all attend Mt Roskill Primary School, are said be thorough Kiwi kids in every way who have never been to China.

At Ms Ding's request, family friends have taken the three children into hiding.

One friend, who asked not to be named, said that it was harsh to split a mother and her children.

"The children are too small. It is not nice to send the mother back to China and leave the children here," she said.

Yesterday afternoon Ms Ding's lawyer, John Foliaki, made an urgent application to the High Court to overturn the removal order.

It is expected that a judge will hear the case this morning. Ms Ding's plane does not leave until 10pm.

An Immigration Service spokeswoman said the department did not comment on specific cases, though she would email department policy on removal of parents where children were involved.

Another friend said watching her own mother being taken by authorities had left Candy scarred.

The friend said, "I understand they are just doing their jobs but it's inhumane to do this to the children. They cry every night. All they want is their mum".

Friends said they were prepared to hide the children for as long as they could.

They say Ms Ding and her husband have separated and immigration authorities wanted her to take the children to China with her.

Ms Ding believed she could not provide for them as a single woman in China where there was no welfare system. The children were New Zealand citizens and would be better off if Ms Ding could stay and look after them, they said.

Speaking to the Herald from the home of a family friend, Ms Ding's children were clearly upset.

When asked if she liked New Zealand, Candy, tears streaming down her cheeks, could only answer: "I want my mum".

Their carer said they had been crying every night since Ms Ding was taken away.

Auckland-based immigration lawyer Colin Amery said there were humanitarian grounds for overstayers to remain in New Zealand if their children were New Zealand citizens. "But you would have to have fairly strong grounds."