Announcement
New members appointed to the New Zealand Refugee Advisory Panel
Published
01 July 2025
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is proud to welcome the appointment of 6 new members to the New Zealand Refugee Advisory Panel (NZRAP), who begin their terms today.
The new members were selected through a nationwide, open, and competitive process held in May 2025, which attracted a diverse range of applicants from across country.
Their selection reflects the depth of lived experience, and community expertise within New Zealand’s refugee-background communities.
The new appointees join 2 continuing members to form an 8-member panel for the 2025–2026 term:
- Nada Haroura – Ōtepoti (Dunedin)
- Abrarullah Saleh – Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
- Liaquat Ali Changezi – Kirikiriroa (Hamilton)
- Sara Ahmad – Kirikiriroa (Hamilton)
- Nimo Ahmed – Whangārei
- Beth Ketema – Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
- Jane Smith – Ōtautahi (Christchurch), continuing member since March 2024
- Jose Tombe – Pōneke (Wellington), continuing member since March 2024
The NZRAP was established in 2022 as a national advisory system to provide direct advice to INZ, working in partnership with the Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies (CAPRS), which serves as the NZRAP Secretariat.
The panel plays a vital role in ensuring refugee-background communities have a voice in shaping the policies that affect them.
General Manager, Refugee and Migrant Services Fiona Whiteridge says this second term of the panel builds on the strong foundations laid by its inaugural members.
“We are proud to support the NZRAP as part of our commitment to a trusted, world-class immigration system, and extend our deep appreciation to the outgoing panel members for their leadership and commitment,” she says.
“We warmly welcome the new members and look forward to the important mahi ahead.”
INZ has been resettling 1500 refugees each year through New Zealand’s annual Refugee Quota Program.
The NZRAP reflects our broader commitment to supporting New Zealand’s international and humanitarian obligations, and to helping migrants and refugees make New Zealand their home.