Kiwi family stunned about expulsion

The Village of Hope near Ain Leuh, Morocco.

A New Zealand family kicked out of Morocco for teaching Christianity to Muslim orphans are safe on their way to Spain, their family says.

Aucklanders Chris and Tina Broadbent and their two young children were given an hour and a half to pack and leave the orphanage run by the Village of Hope charity before being given an armed escort to the border.

They had been voluntarily working at the village for the last 18 months.

Mr Broadbent's father, Dr Roland Broadbent, told NZPA Christian material had been found at the organisation.

In Morocco it was illegal to convert Muslims to Christianity, but as the group had been left alone for nearly two years, Dr Broadbent said it wasn't clear why the orphanage workers were suddenly forced out of the property, leaving the 33 children with nowhere to go.

"It did sound as though there was a change in one of the government ministries, which meant that the lists of institutions - which were under surveillance anyway - were reviewed."

In 2002 the charity had registered with the Moroccan government and had permission to talk about Christianity to the children in their care.

But there appeared to be a "spate of activity" around the country with other Christian-run organisations, Dr Broadbent said.

The family were on a ferry to southern Spain, where they had some contacts, before returning to New Zealand.

"So, apart from some rough weather, things had settled down and they were heading away from problems.

"They were sounding tired but all together as a family and that's one of the more important things that counts."

Dr Broadbent said the family had been enjoying their work with the children and planned to stay for two years.

The eviction was "difficult" for the family because they had to travel for about 24 hours with no sleep with their two young sons, William, two, and Samuel, one.

"It was a concerning thing, but of course we think everything is now under control," Dr Broadbent said.

"There's always worries when you've got authorities changing their attitude, you're never quite sure what their plans are. They obviously had a plan when they came, and their plan was to close down the orphanage and they did - within one day."

Dr Broadbent said the great concern was for the orphans, for which there was no short-term plan.

"There was one Moroccan family that was involved in fostering some of the kids, but they can't look after 33 children.

"I think the longer term plan may be for the children to go to a state funded orphanage. But I don't know that for certain."

Chris Broadbent had been working as a human resources manager for the Village of Hope.

- NZPA