Visa

Auckland athlete Stephen Paea said he feared that if he left New Zealand, Immigration NZ would prevent him from re-entering the country.

The 19-year-old has lived in New Zealand since he was two-years-old and he only found out he was an overstayer last year.

He said his visa applications were declined with no explanation given.

"I found out just as I was in my last year at school and I was beginning to start applying for jobs when I was told by Immigration that I wasn't allowed to work because I didnt have a valid visa.

According to Rapport newspaper, while Nkosi does has a valid passport, but he doesn’t have the requisite number of blank pages in it to be able to apply for a visa. The technicality means he is highly likely to be out of contention for selection against Wales.

The Cell C Sharks speedster – who has a reported 100-metre time of 10.59 seconds – has not joined the squad in Cardiff as a result.

In October, the Bath wing finally returned to rugby after splitting a tendon in his knee at the 2019 World Cup.

But that long quest paled into insignificance when considering the fractures his family have faced this year.

Cokanasiga has not seen his father, Ilaitia, for 12 months.

The last time was at sister Misi’s wedding in Fiji last December.

Hundreds of seasonal workers have been stranded in New Zealand over recent months, some with expiring visas.

Pacific leaders had already raised concern about those with uncertain immigration status missing out on assistance or healthcare because of fear of being discovered.

However the minister, Chris Hipkins, encouraged them to get tested for Covid-19 if they needed to.

"We will not use the information collected through the Covid-19 testing process for other purposes, including for immigration purposes," Mr Hipkins said.

Over the past 20 years the woman has visited New Zealand several times.

According to Kaniva News, in 2017 she was granted a two-year visitor’s visa which allowed multiple visits.

In 2019 she was diagnosed at Vaiola hospital in Tonga with  complicated  diabetes  mellitus  type  2.

She  had end-stage kidney disease and was advised that she needed renal haemodialysis, which was not available in Tonga.

The major sponsors each issued statements saying Blatter should quit after Swiss criminal proceedings were opened against him last week.

Coca-Cola took the first step, saying: "Every day that passes FIFA's image and reputation continues to tarnish."

McDonald's said Blatter going would be "in the best interest of the game".

The 79-year-old is accused by Swiss prosecutors of signing a contract that was "unfavourable to Fifa" and making a "disloyal payment" to UEFA president Michel Platini but denies any wrongdoing.