Seven weeks and 26 minutes late, Portuguese tourist Mario Quintela can finally begin his New Zealand holiday.
Quintela (45) was turned around by Immigration New Zealand when he tried to enter the country on January 1.
Immigration NZ denied him access after a 10-hour grilling as staff believed "his intentions were not genuine''.
But after a campaign by close friends and community support, it was Immigration NZ itself that finally accepted it had to do a U-turn on that decision.
Mr Quintela, who arrived at Queenstown Airport yesterday evening, said he was "happy but tired'' after a 32-hour trip from Lisbon.
He had "no issues'' this time around, in fact an Immigration NZ staff member personally escorted him through the checkpoint.
"Everything was good,'' he said.
"I was very nervous, much more the second time.
"I am looking forward to seeing New Zealand, the mountains, and thank everybody who worked to get me here.''
In January, Mr Quintela was set for a three-month "holiday of a lifetime'', staying in Alexandra with childhood friend Nuno Vilela and his wife Pam Jones.
But he did not make it through Auckland International Airport.
He was single, had limited funds, had no set tourist itinerary, worked in hospitality, like Mr Vilela, and had had a previous health issue.
Allied Press reporter Ms Jones wrote an article on her friend's turnaround and that prompted a groundswell of support, including 40 letters to Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse's office.
"The community has been amazing,'' Mr Vilela said.
"We are going to show my friend a very good time - fishing, tramping, hunting, the fiords, glaciers, the West Coast.''
Immigration NZ national manager border Senta Jehle said Immigration NZ stood by its original decision to deny Mr Quintela entry to New Zealand.
It was based on information made available to border officials at the time.
But once Mr Quintela provided further information that satisfied requirements, a visitor visa could be granted.
A tourism operator paid for Mr Quintela's flight costs.
