We owe a lot of people :)

Obviously – this was a particularly difficult time for us, and we all suffered ill health because of the stress of it. I can honestly say that I have never been through this much stress, and sheer terror. This was the first time in my life I needed sleeping tablets, and NZIS have earned my eternal disgust for putting us through this because of that.

However, it is when things like this come to trample you that you see just how amazing the people around you can be. We had tremendous amounts of support and encouragement from friends, colleagues and local people who helped us survive this nightmare. I won’t say I could not have done it without them, because I would have had to. But having people who were willing to back us up and fight our corner if they had to was truly a blessing.

Bambinos Café in Carterton: this was our home from home when we needed to step away from emails and vent at people and get it out of our system. Carolyn, Kerry, Leslie and Jen we absolutely wonderful to us, and fed us enormous quantities of coffee and Eggs Benny. They also did not mind us taking up a table for hours on end while we worked through paperwork and hid from the internet!

Intercontinental Wellington: This felt like our second home the amount of time we stayed there.  The concierge & front desk staff were great, and the Club Lounge staff were especially amazing – never tiring of supplying coffee til midnight as we did paperwork to get information back to NZIS & the Ombudsman as quickly as we could.  They always listened, mostly in shock at the latest stupidity, and for their understanding we will be forever grateful.  {We may not get on with Management at the IC, but the staff are first class}

South Wairarapa Autos: Ok, might sound a bit odd to give a nod to the local garage, but we did have to go in a few times while we were dealing with this, and they were greatly helpful as a place to vent again. The thing is many of the people we deal with here in New Zealand were actually upset that my family was being barred from emigrating. And embarrassed for their country.

The Doctors. It’s a fact of life that if you get involved in the Medical Assessment process – you will get used to doctors! Ours were brilliant. No matter how many times we had to go back to them asking for essentially the same information, they dealt with it as best they could. Best of all was their brilliant ability to make the odd snotty comment about the fact that the MA didn’t seem able to understand simple medical results. I am particularly grateful to our New Zealand GP who went above and beyond in writing a letter on our behalf because I asked him to.

The Ombudsman’s office: Whether or not they back up our complaint in the end – it has to be said that they were the first people we went to in this drama that treated us properly and took what we said seriously. We owe them a debt for getting the complaint process published – it is something that will help all future applicants and will help to keep NZIS honest.

Maggie, for making me realise that this had become more than just a complaint – that it had become a goal and a purpose – and for helping me realise that no matter how crap it was to go through – I could use it to make a difference.

Friends, colleagues and people I owed money to for having supreme patience that for once I did not have everything under control, was late paying some bills, and did not have instant recall of anything except immigration issues. It was really valued that people took a step back and let me concentrate on dealing with this. Alan B in particular has had the patience of a saint!

Ritchie, Joy, Debbie, Paul, Trev, Shayne, Adriana, Anton, Cheri, Duncan: For giving us help, information, encouragement, coffee and someone to vent our frustrations on. We needed you and you were there for us. Thank you.