Family and Community Services (Ministry of Social Development)
Family and Community Services runs Settling In, a community development programme that works directly with refugee and migrant communities to develop and deliver the social services they need.
Settling In operates in seven regions (Auckland, Hamilton, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Nelson/Tasman, Marlborough and Christchurch), and is currently working on a number of projects including:
- working with a Somali community to support parents bringing up teenagers in New Zealand, and
- running project planning training courses to increase the capacity and skills of groups and organisations.
Family and Community Services PDF [43KB]
Office of Ethnic Affairs
The Office of Ethnic Affairs (OEA) works towards the long-term settlement needs of migrant and refugee groups. This includes work to promote the advantages of ethnic diversity in New Zealand. OEA supports initiatives for the promotion and maintenance of community languages and culture. OEA works towards developing strong sustainable communities who feel safe to express themselves as part of New Zealand’s national identity.
Some examples of OEA initiatives that are helping build community capacity are:
- Community forums. These provide opportunities for community representatives to network and exchanging information. Workshops are held on topics such as sourcing funds for community organisations, working with the media, and national identity, as well as giving community members time for discussion and to raise issues. OEA forums have been held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
- ‘Building Bridges’ programme. This involves working with the Muslim community on issues of integration, public awareness and dialogue. In partnership with the community, OEA has been developing a number of initiatives to address some of these issues:
- youth dialogue and leadership
- communication and visibility
- inter-ethnic and inter-faith relationship building, and
- relationship building with tangata whenua.
- ASB Polyfest and Ethnic Soccer Festivals. OEA sponsors the Diversity Stage at the ASB Polyfest in Auckland and Ethnic Soccer Festivals in Christchurch and Wellington. These projects enable opportunities for ethnic communities to celebrate their cultural identities, form social networks, and provide opportunities for cultural exchange with the aim of demystifying and personalising cultural difference.
- Ethnic Women’s Networks. The Office of Ethnic Affairs can put you in touch with Ethnic Women’s Networks in Auckland and Wellington.
The Office of Ethnic Affairs was set up to represent ethnic sector needs and views to Government. If you want to voice your settlement concerns, you can contact your local Ethnic Advisors in the Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington branches of the Office of Ethnic Affairs. To make your community organisation accessible, add your organisation’s contact details to the Office of Ethnic Affairs online Community Directory. For further information on OEA initiatives, events happening in your region, resources for settlement in New Zealand you can consult the OEA website.
OEA also runs Language Line, a telephone interpreting service provided through government agencies to speakers of languages other than English. Language Line is about ensuring that no matter what their English skills, people have access to public services and information. Interpreters are offered in 39 languages through over 20 participating agencies. Check out the OEA website for the listed languages and agencies.
Office of Ethnic Affairs PDF [31KB]