Kids of climate change refugee face deportation

The three New Zealand-born children of a man facing deportation to Kiribati will also be sent to the island, says Immigration New Zealand.

Ioane Teitiota is currently being held in Mt Eden Prison awaiting deportation after being picked up by Immigration officers on Tuesday morning, after his bid to claim climate change refugee status was dismissed.

Immigration New Zealand said Mr Teitiota's wife and three children, who don't have citizenship, have also been served with deportation orders and it "will be engaging with them to facilitate their departure."

It has also been granted a warrant to keep Mr Teitiota in custody until Monday when a bail hearing will be held to decide whether he should stay in jail.

Mr Teitiota has been fighting deportation since 2011 when he overstayed his visa, arguing that he, his wife, and their children will face rising sea levels, extreme weather and crop destruction as a result of global warming if they are forced back to Kiribati.

Despite taking the case through the courts in July the Supreme Court ruled that while they would face challenges, they would not face serious harm.