New Zealand-born teenager offered residency after deportation threat

Thursday 20 February 2025 · 5 outlets · 5 reports · updated Thu 20 Feb 2025, 3:59pm

In this story Erica Stanford, Immigration New Zealand, Chris Penk, Ricardo Menéndez March

Eighteen-year-old Daman Kumar has been offered a resident visa following an intervention by Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk. Although Kumar has lived in New Zealand his entire life, his parents have not been granted visas and have been told they must leave the country.

How they headlined it

3:14pm3:48pm

1. NZ HeraldThu 20 Feb 2025, 3:14pm

   18-year-old Daman Kumar, who was facing deporation despite living in New Zealand all his life, granted residency (opens in new tab)

2. StuffThu 20 Feb 2025, 3:25pm

   Kiwi kid who'd never left New Zealand spared deportation after U-turn (opens in new tab)

3. 1NewsThu 20 Feb 2025, 3:48pm

   NZ-born 18-year-old facing deportation offered resident visa (opens in new tab)

4. RNZThu 20 Feb 2025, 3:50pm

   Teenager Daman Kumar granted New Zealand residency, but parents ordered to leave (opens in new tab)

5. Otago Daily TimesThu 20 Feb 2025, 3:59pm

   Teen facing deportation granted residency (opens in new tab)