Relative proud of dobbing in battling Tongan overstayers

By ALAN PERROTT

A relative of four Tongan family members who are battling to avoid deportation says they are an embarrassing financial drain on the family and wants them to leave.

The person, who did not want to be identified, claimed responsibility for dobbing in four members of the Kulikefu family as overstayers to the Immigration Service.

The tipoff led to 18-year-old Siuati Kulikefu spending two days in the Papakura police cells after an immigration swoop on the family's South Auckland home on Monday.

On Wednesday night she was released on Government orders after an urgent application by lawyer John Foliaki.

He also requested a permit to allow Siuati, her sick mother, Sesalina Kulikefu, 23-year-old sister, Elenoa, and 3-year-old adopted brother, Lotu, to remain in the country until they can apply for residency.

Siuati is now required to report to immigration officials between 9am and 4pm every day. The other family members have agreed to be interviewed by the Immigration Service next Wednesday.

But the relative claimed Sesalina Kulikefu, 50, has accumulated a hospital bill of about $40,000 since arriving in February 2000 for treatment for heart and kidney disease.

The caller said Mrs Kulikefu did not declare her illnesses, which require home dialysis four times a day, when she arrived and now has to be supported by her family.

Claims that the woman's husband, Sione Latu Kulikefu, intends returning to New Zealand were also disputed.

"As far as the family is concerned, we are sick and tired of them and want them to go, but they won't," said the relative. "We will not be paying any of her hospital bills at this point because we can't afford to.

"I know the girls are saying they are working to pay for their mother's care, but that's crap."

A fax outlining the claims against the family was also sent to the office of New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.

Elenoa Kulikefu, speaking from a secret Mangere location, denied all the claims against her family and said she had spoken to her father twice in the past two days.

She said he was waiting for a standby flight from Perth to Auckland.

Oldest daughter Makelesi Ashworth said from Wiluna, Western Australia, that Mr Kulikefu expected to fly to NZ next Wednesday.

"Tell whoever is spreading these tales that his oldest daughter says they can get ... ," she said.

Mr Foliaki could not be reached for comment.