Anneke Smith
An Indian widow whose husband drowned at a Hawke’s Bay beach earlier this year has been granted respite in her fight to stay in New Zealand.
Tanvi Bhavsar and her husband Hemin Limbachiya were swimming at Waimarama Beach in early January when the couple were swept out to sea.
Mr Limbachiya’s death put an end to the couple’s residency application and dreams of a future in New Zealand.
Unsuccessful appeal
Her case was taken up by local MPs in Hawke’s Bay after she made an unsuccessful appeal to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.
Labour MP Stuart Nash and National MP Lawrence Yule wrote to Associate Minister of Immigration Kris Faafoi to consider reviewing the decision on humanitarian grounds.
“The sudden and tragic death of Mrs Bhavsar’s husband is an exceptional circumstance which was completely out of her control. If she had to return to India she would face a difficult life of isolation, deprivation and exclusion from society as a widow.
Indian culture
“In Indian culture the widow of a man who has died tragically is viewed as bad luck, and thus shunned by her community and society in general.”
Mrs Bhavsar’s brother Prashin Kumar previously told RNZ that Mr Limbachiya’s last act was to instruct his rescuer to save his wife instead of himself.
When she returned to India to bury her husband she found herself an outcast, he said.
On Wednesday, Mr Faafoi granted Mrs Bhavsar a two-year open work visa as an exception to instructions, subject to her meeting health and character requirements.
Anneke Smith is a Journalist at Radio New Zealand. Indian Newslink has published the above Report and Picture under a Special Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz
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Photo Caption:
Tanvi Bhavsar and husband, Hemin Limbachiya (Photo Supplied to RNZ)
