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Advocates buckling under strain of deportees

Author
Laura Dooney,
Publish Date
Thu, 15 Oct 2015, 5:42AM

Advocates buckling under strain of deportees

Author
Laura Dooney,
Publish Date
Thu, 15 Oct 2015, 5:42AM

An organisation helping former prisoners reintegrate into society is buckling under the strain of helping deportees from Australia.

LISTEN TO TUI AH LOO'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH NEWSTALK ZB ABOVE

Prisoner Aid and Rehabilitation Society Chief Executive Tui Ah Loo said they receive funding to help New Zealand prisoners reintegrate into society, but nothing for ex-prisoners deported here from Australia.

She said they've helped 32 of those in the past three months, some who may not have been here since they were a baby.

"Some of them come back not knowing anyone, their Mum, their Dad their wives, their children their whole family is back in Australia. They know no one. They don't know what's going to happen to them when they land."

Ah Loo said some arrive in the country knowing no-one, with no cash and nowhere to stay - and it's vital they get help.

"We had a recent case that we worked with - a young man from Australia, and said basically if it wasn't for our organisation meeting him at the airport, he would have offended."

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