A man has been charged in relation to the alleged theft of an 85-year-old refugee's life savings and passport while he was gardening at his home in Auckland.
Lu Qing Zhai, of St Johns in East Auckland, lives on superannuation and what more he can earn by growing and selling Chinese vegetables.
He had been saving for a trip to visit his two daughters in Australia and an autistic son in China.
But on October 31 his unit was burgled, it is alleged. He lost his wallet containing about $700 cash, a mobile phone, his passport and an Eftpos card. About $3000 was withdrawn from his bank account and the card was used to buy $50 of fuel at a petrol station.