Guy Verschuur has had his appeal of a deportation declined, after he defrauded Nelson businesses, failing to pay for dental work.

A United States man convicted for theft and dishonesty in New Zealand has lost his bid to return to the country.

Guy Lawrence Verschuur is liable for deportation following a review of his residency prompted by a fraud conviction in October 2015, Immigration New Zealand has found.

Verschuur appealed the deportation notice on humanitarian grounds, but the Immigration Tribunal rejected that.

Charlotte Squire Verschuur and Jenny Rautio (pictured) and another friend were rescued from Kahurangi National Park in 2013 after being stranded for 10 days.

Verschuur was convicted for a mix of offences during his more than 14 years in New Zealand, including shoplifting, theft of property and careless driving.

He's been living in South-East Asia for nearly two years.

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The American made headlines in 2013 when he and two women were rescued from Anatoki Forks Hut, near Takaka, in Kahurangi National Park.

Their planned three-day tramping trip became a 10-day ordeal when they were stranded at the hut by sickness and poor weather.

It was later revealed that Verschuur was convicted of first degree false imprisonment of a minor in the US in January 1998 and listed on the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry.

His troubles with immigration were triggered when in 2014 when, according to the most recent Tribunal judgment given by Judge Peter Spiller, it was found he hadn't declared previous offending in the US when he applied for residency in 2008.

But, it was his most recent offending in New Zealand, which saw him fraudulently obtain dental work in Nelson, which prompted this latest deportation ruling.

In 2011, he gave a false name when visiting Nelson Oral Surgery, and received a consultation, x-rays, and then in 2012, implant surgery. He told staff he'd forgotten his wallet but would pay the more than $2000 owed via internet banking. He never did.

In March 2013, he went to Richmond Dental Care and had two fillings for $380. He used the alias "Michael David Pooch" and told staff he needed to get his wallet from his car, but he never returned or paid.

He left the country in 2013, and on his return in 2015 was convicted and sentenced to 95 hours' community work for both offences and reparation for both dental costs owed.

Since February 2016 he's lived in South-East Asia and hasn't returned, and it was determined in 2016 he would be served a deportation notice if he re-entered the country. He appealed his deportation.

Verschuur's appeal was on humanitarian grounds, with his lawyer Rob Ord submitting deportation would be "unjust or unduly harsh" given he had settled in New Zealand.

Orb argued the offending was not "the worst of its kind" and Verschuur was "unlikely to reoffend".

On behalf of the Minister of Immigration however, it was submitted Verschuur did not have any exceptional humanitarian circumstances to warrant his return to New Zealand.

It was also submitted there was no evidence to suggest that Verschuur's medical condition, hypoglycaemia, couldn't be managed in the United States.

Verschuur first arrived in New Zealand in 2002 on a visitors permit, and was later granted a work permit for his work as a massage therapist. He'd been living in Golden Bay but has been out of the country since early 2016, however, and would have been served a deportation notice had he re-entered the country.

The Tribunal's judgment revealed Verschuur had weakened links to New Zealand due to his "repeated, lengthy absences".

He had no close relatives or dependents in New Zealand, and hadn't provided evidence about his apparent current partner, understood to be with him abroad, except a statement from his lawyer to say she is a New Zealand resident.

The Tribunal found he still has strong links to the United States.

While the Tribunal acknowledged deportation may cause him and his current partner "disappointment and emotional upset", this did not equate to exceptional humanitarian circumstances.

His appeal was declined and his deportation notice stands.