{"id":964730,"date":"2023-01-20T06:23:58","date_gmt":"2023-01-20T06:23:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiapacificreport.nz\/?p=83195"},"modified":"2023-01-20T06:23:58","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T06:23:58","slug":"new-zealand-get-me-off-this-island-pleads-9-year-iran-refugee-on-nauru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2023\/01\/20\/new-zealand-get-me-off-this-island-pleads-9-year-iran-refugee-on-nauru\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018New Zealand, get me off this island,\u2019 pleads 9-year Iran refugee on Nauru"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Lydia Lewis<\/a>, RNZ Pacific<\/a> journalist<\/em><\/p>\n A second group of refugees detained in offshore Australian detention camps have arrived in New Zealand.<\/p>\n Four people touched down on a flight yesterday.<\/p>\n “I’m happy for them that they can get their freedom,” a friend of the recent arrivals who is still detained on Nauru, Hamid, said.<\/p>\n Their arrival is part of an offer made by the New Zealand government to resettle up to 150 people who are or have been detained on Nauru each year for three years starting from 2022.<\/p>\n The Australian federal government accepted the offer<\/a> in March last year and the first six refugees arrived in November.<\/p>\n The total arrivals of 10 is out of 100 refugees who have had their cases for resettlement submitted to Immigration New Zealand (INZ).<\/p>\n ‘Kia ora’ Aotearoa, I’m Hamid’ “The situation here on this island is really hard — not just for me, but for everyone.<\/p>\n “I cannot stand any more time on this island.<\/p>\n “Please help! please help! please help! I need my freedom, I need my life, I need my family!” Hamid said.<\/p>\n He arrived on Christmas Island in 26 July 2013 with his eldest daughter and son. He left his wife and youngest daughter, who was only nine at the time, in Iran.<\/p>\n “In Iran, a lot of people already die, she [my wife] is tired. My daughter, I always worried about her. I give them hope,” he said.<\/p>\n Hamid dreams of being reunited with his family in New Zealand. He dreams of living in Queenstown and having a big Iranian barbecue.<\/p>\n A second group of refugees detained in offshore Australian detention camps have arrived in New Zealand.<\/p>\n Four people touched down on a flight yesterday.https:\/\/t.co\/arpinIyy3U<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 RNZ Pacific (@RNZPacific) January 20, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Hamid is from Iran and has been detained for almost a decade.<\/p>\n\n