Cabinet minister Paula Bennett was forced to apologise for using her position to try to get her daughter's boyfriend out of jail. Now, he tells Anna Leask how he was thrown out of the country.
The convicted violent criminal who lived in Government minister Paula Bennett's home is out of prison - and has been kicked out of the country.
Viliami Halaholo, 24, sought permission from Associate Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson to stay in New Zealand.
But he was collected from prison by immigration staff who he said told him: "The minister wants you out of the country."
Speaking from his uncle's home in Nuku'alofa, Halaholo said he was then driven to the Counties Manukau police station by immigration officials.
He spent the night there and was put on a flight to Tonga the next day. "I guess they just had enough of me," he said.
In 2007, Halaholo was sentenced to four years and six months in prison after an attack that left a man with a broken jaw and gashed head.
He had been bailed to Social Development Minister Paula Bennett's West Auckland home where he lived with her daughter Ana and the baby they had together, Tiara-Lee, who is now aged 3.
Bennett was forced to apologise to Prime Minister John Key after she wrote to the Parole Board and a judge in support of Halaholo.
Halaholo was released on Monday after Parole Board chairman Judge David Carruthers stated he had been "a very good prisoner" and was "no longer an undue risk to the safety of the community".
Halaholo said: "My lawyer tried to get the Minister [of Immigration] to give me a chance and clear my past but the minister declined. The whole time I was in jail I reflected on my past life. I've never done anything good. No wonder people don't like me."
Halaholo said he was able to see his 6-year-old daughter before he flew out of Auckland but not 3-year-old Tiara-Lee.
"I talked to Ana...she just cried. It's ruined my role as a father. I really miss my kids. I was meant to get out on Tiara-Lee's third birthday. I was stoked when they told me that, it was the biggest blessing. It cut deep, big time."
Halaholo said he would apply to come back to New Zealand next year. Until then he wanted to work and save.
"What's a family without a father? I've got to be there for my kids."
Halaholo said he had not ruled out reconciling with Ana Bennett if he was allowed back into New Zealand. He said he made the decision to end their relationship last year because of the pressure the negative publicity about his past put on Paula Bennett.
He did not want his actions to affect the MP's achievements.
"The time that I knew her we got on well. We had a big rapport, everything was sweet," he said of the minister.
Halaholo wanted people to know he had changed. "I've done some stupid things. It's a cliche to say, but I regret it every day. I'm not going to ask for anyone's sympathy. I don't think I deserve it."
The day before his release Immigration NZ officials went to Springhill Prison in Huntly and told him he was being returned to Tonga.
Immigration New Zealand refused to comment on the case.
The process for removal orders allowed Associate Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson the final say: She could have intervened and allowed Halaholo to stay or let the removal go ahead.
Wilkinson refused to comment on Halaholo's case other than to confirm that she did not intervene.
Halaholo was removed from the country because he was an overstayer.
Born in Tonga, he moved to New Zealand with his family when he was 9 and was in the process of applying for residency when charged with the 2005 attack.
Without residency, Halaholo had no legal right to be in New Zealand.
The application was rejected, meaning Halaholo's prison release date also became his removal date.
Ana Bennett did not respond to requests for comment. She had told her mother about Halaholo's removal on Friday.
Paula Bennett said, "I hope he's trying to move forward. He's always had my support in leaving his past behind and taking responsibility for it and moving on."
