Ukrainian owners of Auckland restaurant La Vista get 12-month reprieve
The Ukrainian owners of an Auckland restaurant won't be forced to leave the country in July, after an intervention by
the Associate Immigration Minister.
La Vista owner Nataliya Shchetkova. Photo: RNZ / Eva Corlett
The Shchetkova family, who own La Vista in Auckland's St Heliers, arrived in New Zealand six years ago on a long-term
business visa.
Immigration New Zealand declined them residency and they were told to sell their business and to leave the country by July.
Two petitions urging Association Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi to intervene were presented to Parliament in February but failed to
get any traction with MPs.
Yesterday, Mr Faafoi told the family he'd granted them another 12 months to apply for residency.
Ms Shchetkova had described Ukraine as a "black hole" in Europe and said going back there would be a disaster for her family.