Questions are being raised over cases where New Zealand-born teenagers fear being kicked out of the country for being illegal overstayers.

A law change in 2006 removed the right to citizenship by birth for children born in New Zealand - but there's a wave of kids born after that date who are set to turn 18 and it's unclear what could happen to them.

Immigration lawyer Alistair McClymont says he's representing some of these kids - who he feels are 'innocent' in this situation. 

"They need to be separated from adults who make conscious decisions to remain in a country unlawfully. These kids don't make those conscious decisions. They're just born - that's it."

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