Missing Indians urged to "do the right thing"

About 220 Indians came to New Zealand as part of Days in the Diocese, a pre-World Youth Day event that gives pilgrims time with Catholic families and acclimatises them to the host country's culture. For the first time, Days in the Diocese was extended beyond the host nation, with Sydney's organisers asking New Zealand to be included.

During those days, though, 40 Indians went missing at different times in what appears to be an orchestrated attempt to stay in New Zealand.

Maurice Boland, chairman of the Auckland World Youth Day committee, said the group's actions "caused considerable anguish to their families, their faith, their country, and have imposed an added burden to authorities in New Zealand, Australia and India".

On July 20, two of the 40 Indians left for their home country. Mr Boland said the others would be wise to do the same thing, saying it would be in their best interests, despite what people "who aren't acting in their best interests" - the people encouraging them stay in New Zealand permanently - are suggesting.

"As you know, you were warmly welcomed to New Zealand and that welcome still exists," Mr Boland said in a July 17 statement to the missing Indians.

"However, every day you continue with your fruitless pretence of staying in our country is a further day closer to when your temporary stay will turn from being legal to being entirely illegal."

The "pilgrims" are in New Zealand on one-month visitor visas, and won't become overstayers until August 5 or 6.

Thirteen of the Indians who went missing had been billeted with families in Massey parish in west Auckland.

Parish priest Fr Peter Murphy said host families were "obviously upset" that the young people went missing, some leaving in the middle of the night ­- even jumping out windows.

He called the incidents a "blemish" on a wonderful occasion and said parishioners' spirits had been buoyed by watching events unfold in Sydney.

Mr Boland said the decisions of the 40 people had "tainted what has been a wonderful time".

Immigrations officials had spoken to about half the pilgrims as of July 21 and informed them of their visa status.