A New Zealand-born murderer about to be released from an Australian prison will be sent back here, despite claims he has no family or friends in New Zealand.

38-year-old Julius Graff was jailed for 23 years in 1998, after a series of brutal street bashings, including the Sydney murder of taxi driver Youssef Chemeis.

His Australian visa was cancelled in October when release was looking likely, with then Immigration and Border Protection minister Scott Morrison labelling his crimes "abhorrent" and "repugnant".

His six brothers, parents, a son and a granddaughter all live in Australia.