Wellington: After an eight-year battle, an Auckland man wanted for murder in China has been spared extradition from New Zealand.

China wanted Kyung Yup Kim to stand trial in Shanghai over the 2009 death of Peiyun Chen, a woman aged 20.

Former Justice Minister Amy Adams twice approved extradition, after China gave assurances Kim would not be executed.

But in a victory for Kim and his lawyer Tony Ellis on Tuesday, the extradition decision has been quashed and must now be reconsidered.