New figures reveal Australia's crackdown on Kiwi criminals has caused an escalating crime wave in New Zealand.
Since 2015, Australia has sent back over 2000 people and more than half have committed offences since being back in New Zealand. In total, they've now committed 9000 offences including home invasions, assaults, and child sex crimes, and more than 2000 instances of "dishonesty", like theft.
The policy of deporting New Zealanders from Australia has deeply affected the trans-Tasman relationship. The New Zealand Government's argument against it is that many of the people sent here have actually spent little time living here, and should instead be deemed Australians.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reiterated what she calls "extreme displeasure" for the policy on Monday.
"Unquestionably there is a correlation between this policy and a rise in gangs in New Zealand, unquestionably so… and we will keep sharing our view in the strongest of manners," she said.
Advocates for deportees argue they're often drawn to crime because they feel so helpless in New Zealand.
It's not a new excuse, but advocates like Filipa Payne say the big problem is that the deportees are being left to fend for themselves.
"The New Zealand Government is not providing enough services or care for the men when they get here," she said.
Jess Wheeler is the daughter of a victim attacked by a deportee.
Her and her mum, Laura, were at an Auckland mall two years ago when Laura was grabbed and held at knifepoint.
"I would have never expected that is something that people would do, but now I've seen it and I think about everything more before stuff happens," she said.
Laura was eventually released and is now trying to move on.
After this ordeal, it emerged her attacker was Eddie Tamatea, a Kiwi deportee from Australia.
Tamatea is reported to have committed serious crimes in Australia before being sent here.
His actions earned him two years in jail, and 16-year-old Wheeler is finding it hard to move on.
"Sometimes when I'm doing something, there's this feeling I get in my stomach, like anxiety," she said.
Wheeler said she's thankful to still have her mum, but said changes need to be made to the deportee system.
"They're just expected to come back here and live a normal life, but their life is in Australia."
