Zaoui breaks down as he thanks NZ

Ahmed Zaoui at a press conference this morning.

UPDATE - Algerian asylum seeker Ahmed Zaoui broke down today as he thanked New Zealanders on his first full day on bail.

The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that Mr Zaoui, who had been in custody since his arrival in New Zealand two years ago, should be bailed to the Dominican Friars in Auckland.

He is now staying at the St Benedictine priory in inner city Newton.

Mr Zaoui held a brief press conference this morning, which was cut short when he was overcome by emotion.

"Yesterday was a great day, it was like being born," he said.

"I am resuming my life."

He said said he wanted to thank New Zealanders for their generosity.

"Now I can see your beautiful country," he said.

"I came to New Zealand to find peace and today I can say my heart and my body is infused with peace."

Mr Zaoui, who was released from Auckland Remand Prison last night, said he wasn't able to sleep overnight because of the excitement of getting bail.

He was looking forward to being able to wander city streets and accustom himself to the smells of New Zealand.

Mr Zaoui, a former Algerian MP in an elected government deposed by a military coup, arrived in New Zealand on December 4, 2002, on a false passport.

He had been held in custody without charge on the grounds that he was a threat to national security.

However, in August last year, the Refugee Status Appeals Authority declared him a genuine refugee.

His security risk is being reviewed by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.

The terms of Mr Zaoui's bail include remaining at the priory under a 10pm to 6am curfew and reporting to Auckland Central police station twice a week.

One of Mr Zaoui's lawyers, Deborah Manning, said the past 24 hours had been an overwhelming time.

She said the court decision was a "real triumph" for Mr Zaoui, but there was still a long way to go.

The case would not be over until the security risk assessment process was completed and his family, who are in Malaysia, could join him.

"Although Mr Zaoui does have more freedom, he is not entirely free and he is not entirely safe either," she said.

"His case is not over until the national sercurity risk certificate process is finished and he gets the protection of New Zealand he deserves and his wife and their four sons can join him here."

There was an appeal for clothes for Mr Zaoui, while Massey University had offered him the use of its library.

A visit to the dentist is on the agenda for Mr Zaoui today.

Father Peter Murnane said Mr Zaoui didn't sleep much overnight, partly because of excitement at his release and partly because of toothache.

The plan was for Mr Zaoui to have a mostly quiet day today. "There's nothing much except going to the dentist," he said.

"He really needs to unwind, although constant disturbances will come with people trying to contact him and little things being attended."

Mr Zaoui spent much of the first hours of his release talking to friends. He also spoke to his family, who are in Malaysia, and to his father in Algeria.

Father Murnane said he came into the dining room this morning to be greeted by "a beautiful sight".

"He was sitting alone reading the paper," he said.

"What a wonderful thing to have some normality in a man's life. He can relax, look out the window and read the paper."

Father Murnane believed the court's decision was a step in reuniting different faiths.

"Justice is about restoration, not separation," he said.

"At a very early hour, there were sounds coming down the stairs.

"He was praying quietly and that was a beautiful thing to have in a Christian home -- a man from a different culture praying in his way and we praying in our way."
- NZPA