Tears mark first step of fight over Iani's future care

Alana Cleland and her Romanian foster son, Iani Lingurar, set off on their heartbreak journey to Romania yesterday as diplomatic intervention to bring them back to New Zealand began.

The New Plymouth paediatric nurse broke down as she embraced her father, John Cleland, at New Plymouth Airport before they left for Romania.

"It's pretty hard saying goodbye to everybody," Miss Cleland said.

Romanian officials have demanded that 6-year-old Iani, who has been in the fulltime foster care of Miss Cleland for four years, be returned to his birth country.

A new law in Romania bans international adoptions from there. A positive report and recommendation by Child, Youth and Family about Miss Cleland's suitability to adopt has fallen on deaf ears.

It is feared that Iani could end up back in a Romanian orphanage.

New Plymouth MP Harry Duynhoven said the Government would contact Romanian officials pleading Miss Cleland's case.

During the past two years, Iani has been living in New Plymouth with Miss Cleland and her parents.

He has been attending Spotswood Primary School, has a Kiwi accent and now knows little of his own language.

Her mother, Beryl Cleland, said she could not imagine life without Iani. "He doesn't know any other family."