Obese chef in New Zealand begs for financial assistance to avoid deportation

The sad tale of the South African chef and his wife who had worked in New Zealand for years before his work visa was refused due to his extremely large size has taken a turn for the worse.

The plight of Albert Buitenhuis and Marthie, his wife, dominated expat media and Kiwi news sites for days after it became public knowledge. Even although Albert had been working happily as chef in a Christchurch restaurant since 2007 and was actually 30 kilos lighter than when he first arrived, his and his wife’s residency applications were refused due to his size and its potential strain on the Kiwi health service.

An appeal was sent to the Associate Immigration Minister Nikki Kaye on 19 July, with a reply promised within two weeks, but the couple are still waiting to hear from her. In the meantime, they’ve spent all their savings, been evicted from their home for non-payment of rent and are now practically penniless.

Albert has set up a Facebook appeal for funds to help them fight deportation and stay in the country. He and Marthie are confused and depressed, even although their former employer is holding their jobs for them against a change of heart by immigration.

The couple, now staying with Albert’s sister in Auckland, are selling their belongings on Trade Me in the hope they can keep going a while longer, but are now losing hope. Immigration has asked for new medicals, but they can’t afford to get them done.

According to Albert, even if they are allowed to stay and take up their former jobs as chef and waitress at Christchurch’s Cashmere Club, he’s not sure they could ever get on their financial feet again. Marthie adds that they had good, long-term jobs, some small savings, no debt and a home, and now they’ve lost almost everything.