The government has rejected a convicted murderer's request to overturn his deportation to South Africa on release from prison.
Colin Bouwer fatally poisoned his wife, Annette Bouwer, in Dunedin between November 1999 and January 2000.
The 66-year-old has suffered significant, but unspecified, physical health issues in the past year, which have required time in hospital.
Bouwer had applied to Associate Immigration Minister Craig Foss to have his deportation order cancelled.
The minister has now rejected the request.
In a letter to Mr Bouwer's lawyer, David More, Mr Foss said he was not prepared to intervene in the case. He did not give his reasons.
