Gold Coast coward puncher on way back to New Zealand

A New Zealander responsible for a coward punch on the Gold Coast will be deported.

Caleb Maraku takes a selfie as leaves court last month.

Caleb Maraku, who smiled for selfies outside a Gold Coast court after he was let off without a conviction for a coward punch, will be deported to New Zealand.

The Australian Border Force detained Mr Maraku today and he is set to be kicked out of Australia following his schoolies festival assault at Surfers Paradise last November.

Video footage showed Mr Maraku punching victim Taliesin Tardrew-O’Meara, 19, from the side as he tried to back away.

Mr Tardrew-O’Meara fell to the ground with a thud, but the disturbing footage was not shown or mentioned during Mr Maraku’s court hearing last month at which he pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm.

Caleb Maraku punches teenager Taliesin Tardrew-O’Meara in Surfers Paradise last year. Picture: Channel Nine

Southport magistrate Joan White sentenced Mr Maraku to 12 months’ probation and did not record a conviction.

Mr Maraku, 19, who moved to Australia from New Zealand six years ago, had laughed and posed for selfies in front of television crews outside court.

Almost 50,000 people have signed a petition calling for him to be deported.

“We can confirm that Mr Maraku was detained this morning by the Australian Border Force, ahead of his removal from Australia. No further details are available at this time,” an ABF spokesman said.

The Home Affairs Department and Minister Peter Dutton have discretionary powers to cancel the visas of people who pose a risk to the community.