A Tuvalu family has won an appeal to stay in New Zealand after they claimed they would be affected by climate change if they went home.
This is the first successful application for residency on humanitarian grounds in New Zealand that has featured climate change.
The Immigration and Protection Tribunal said the family has strong ties to New Zealand and found “exceptional circumstances”.
A bid from a Kiribati man to become the world’s first climate change refugee was rejected earlier this year.
The international Refugee Convention does not recognise victims of climate change as refugees.
An environmental law expert said the Tuvalu family decision did not provide an open ticket for climate change refugees hoping to come to New Zealand.