Transcript
It's been more than four years since Laasi Anderson farewelled her husband and 10-year-old daughter from Tuvalu.
The pair had secured resident visas in New Zealand under a programme with dedicated spots for Tuvaluans.
But Ms Anderson, who's visually impaired, says the health standards imposed by Immigration New Zealand have left her with no hope of joining her family.
"They tell me that disabilities are not allowed there. I can't go with my husband, with my family because of my health."
Health requirements for residence visas in New Zealand, while considered on a case-by-case basis, are strict.
Applicants aren't allowed to impose undue costs or demands on the public health system.
Critics say this unfairly rules out people living with disabilities.
In a statement, a visa services manager at Immigration New Zealand, Michael Carley, refuted any claims of discrimination.
"Each application is decided on its own merits and the assumption that a decision is made due to any disability is purely speculation with no evidential basis."
Laasi Anderson's story echoes that of Tavesia Valoaga, who's had to leave his disabled son, Solomona Tavesia, in Tuvalu.
Mr Valoaga says he's tried for several years to bring his son over to New Zealand but it was impossible because of his disability, which he declined to identify.
Tuvalu's newly-established Human Rights Commissioner, Sa'aga Teafa says he's concerned by both cases.
"That's why we raised the button to allow them to know that is a little bit of a concern what they do."
Mr Teafa has reached out to New Zealand Foreign Ministry officials and his counterparts at New Zealand's Human Rights Commission.
Also lobbying on behalf of the two families is the general manager of Tuvaluan disability advocacy group Fusi Alofa, Melton Tauetia.
"We feel someone looking after the disability. I feel that migration is not a restriction as being a disability and that's really really discriminating."
Meanwhile, Laasi Anderson, who's a school teacher in Tuvalu, says she'd like to see rights improved for disabled migrants, particularly those from the Pacific.
"It's very difficult for me to stay here, and my husband and my daughter is there. But very difficult for me."
