Iraqi diplomat fights deportation

A former Iraqi diplomat is fighting government attempts to have him sent home from New Zealand.

Former ambassador Zukhair Mohammad Al-Omar's case was inadvertently discovered by immigration officials while trying to track down former Iraqi minister Amer Mahdi Al-Khshali.

The cases prompted Immigration Minister Paul Swain to toughen up the visa approval regime and cut back the applications from high-risk countries processed by offshore immigration offices like Bangkok.

The Immigration Service revoked both men's visitors' permits. Both have appealed.

A Department of Labour spokeswoman said Mr Al-Omar had appealed to the removal review authority within the 42-day limit.

"He cannot be removed while his appeal is being processed."

NZ First leader Winston Peters said Mr Al-Omar would now be a long-term drain on the taxpayer.

Mr Al-Omar had been visiting his son, Omar al-Omar, in Auckland when his presence in New Zealand became an election-year hot potato.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY