Iranian overstayer weds and wins rethink

By HELEN TUNNAH

An Iranian overstayer accused of violent and threatening behaviour is having his removal from New Zealand reconsidered after getting married.

Saied Ghanbari had been dubbed New Zealand's most wanted overstayer before he surrendered to immigration officials after more than a year on the run.

At the time the Immigration Service said he would be expelled as soon as his travel documents were finalised.

But he has now asked Associate Immigration Minister Damien O'Connor to review his case, partly because he got married 10 days ago.

Mr O'Connor confirmed last night that Mr Ghanbari had asked for another ministerial review of the case based on new information, which included his recent wedding.

Mr O'Connor would not say how long the review would take, and declined to comment when asked if it would be politically embarrassing to allow Mr Ghanbari to stay.

Immigration officials were left red-faced last month when they admitted they had been unable to find Mr Ghanbari - but he appeared live on television, twice.

In one Holmes show appearance, he stood in an Auckland park with his identity concealed while Immigration Minister Paul Swain appealed to him to give himself up.

"You're not allowed to be here. You are an embarrassment to your community," Mr Swain said.

"Give yourself up ... and get on a plane and go home."

Mr Ghanbari has a 6-month-old child born in New Zealand, and has now married the child's mother.

He is a failed refugee claimant who had a removal order served on him last June.

He has been in New Zealand for eight years.

A previous partner claims Mr Ghanbari assaulted her, and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters told Parliament this year that the Iranian was a drug user who had trespass and protection orders against him for violent and threatening behaviour.

Mr Ghanbari has denied the claims, and has no criminal convictions.

His lawyer, Colin Amery, said last night that the marriage alone would not be sufficient reason for Mr Ghanbari to have the removal order overturned, but it was one humanitarian factor to be considered.

Mr Amery said he had not advised his client to wed, and said he found out only in recent days when a copy of the marriage certificate was sent to him.

The Immigration Service is entitled to consider whether a marriage is genuine or not.