Zaoui seeks no apology from Government

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Ahmen Zaoui's fight for freedom took nearly five years but he needed just three words for his wife: "I am free."
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The father of four had just learned yesterday he was a free man in a country where authorities had fought against him since 2002 and he wanted to tell his wife, Leila.

Asked to recount the tearful conversation, Mr Zaoui said he told his wife: "I am free. And I said the case is over. She cried."

Mr Zaoui also spoke to his youngest son, Youssef, "and he said, 'When my father?' because he cannot understand, he wants to come".

After learning he could remain in New Zealand as a refugee, Mr Zaoui arrived with his legal team at the Catholic church in inner-city Auckland that is next to the friary he has lived in as a condition of his bail.

With flowers pressed on him, he told reporters he was overjoyed.

"I am happy, I am delighted, and I can say I am relieved, not because just that my name is cleared but the security risk is removed. I am no longer considered a threat to New Zealand," he said.

"When I came to New Zealand I believed New Zealand was a just and democratic country."

The democracy was tested during the five years. "Today I know that my trust was (well) placed."

The Algerian said he accepted critics would remain sceptical toward him.

"Even though I got my outcome, I am not talking about victory, it is not in my dictionary. I am a man of peace and of democracy and I want safety for myself and my family and be a normal man who can maybe share and be productive in this society. And improve my relationship with people."

Mr Zaoui said he did not want an apology from the Government.

"This is a victory for democracy and justice and I don't need the Government to apologise, even if they want to do. I am not asking for this, I am not playing a game with the Government. It is most important that my name has been cleared."

Mr Zaoui was accompanied by his lawyer, Deborah Manning, who was asked what celebrations were planned. She referred to the curfew on his bail conditions, which no longer applied: "Ahmed is allowed to stay up past 10 o'clock tonight."

- © Fairfax NZ News