An English teacher from New Zealand has won his battle against deportation after his case became a cause celebre in eastern France when his students and locals rose in support.

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Oliver Dean, 31 and from Wellington, has been teaching at the University of Belfort since September 2011, having previously spent four years studying and teaching in Strasbourg and Dijon.

But after the university was forced to reduce the number of hours he teaches at the start of the current academic year this September, local authorities ruled that he was no longer entitled to stay in France.

This was reversed after nearly all of his students lobbied for him to stay on.

"After an extensive examination of the case... a temporary permit has been given to Dean," allowing him to stay until the end of the current school year till June, Marie-Claude Lambert from the office of the local prefect, told AFP on Tuesday.

Dean said he was "deeply moved" by the strong expression of support by the locals.