What the Refugee Resettlement Strategy covers
The vision of the strategy is to help former refugees and their families achieve their goals and thrive in New Zealand.
Approach of the Refugee Strategy
The New Zealand Refugee Resettlement Strategy is a whole-of-government approach to delivering improved refugee resettlement outcomes. Since 2023 the coverage of the Refugee Resettlement Strategy expanded to include:
- the Refugee Quota Programme
- Community Organisation Resettlement Sponsorship (CORS) Programme
- the Refugee Family Support Category
- Convention Refugees
- Afghan interpreters and Afghan evacuees.
Strategy vision and outcomes
The vision of this strategy is that former refugees and their families settle successfully, achieve their goals, and thrive in Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes feeling safe and well, having a sense of belonging and being able to participate in and contribute to all aspects of life (social, economic, cultural, and civic).
The vision is underpinned by 5 settlement outcomes:
- Participation and Inclusion: Former refugees and their families are welcomed and have a strong sense of belonging and acceptance in their communities and in Aotearoa New Zealand. They feel confident and safe to participate in different aspects of their lives.
- Health and Wellbeing: Former refugees and their families achieve their health and wellbeing goals and thrive in their lives.
- Housing: Former refugees and their families live in homes and in communities that meet their long-term needs and goals.
- Education, Training and English Language: Former refugees and their families achieve their education, training and English language goals
- Employment and Self-Sufficiency: Former refugees and their families achieve their employment and self-sufficiency goals, building on their skills and experiences.
Measuring success
Progress is currently measured annually against 7 success indicators and one target (Education) approved by the Government. Baseline data has been established as a basis for assessing subsequent progress.
The Refugee Resettlement Strategy was refreshed in 2023. The decisions made as part of the Refresh have resulted in a further programme of work to fully develop and embed the new strategy. This work will include developing new ways to measure success and ensure we have the data we need to measure progress against the new outcomes.
Refresh Project
In 2022 to 2023, we refreshed the NZ Refugee Resettlement Strategy (NZRRS) to ensure it continues to effectively support successful settlement in the future, reflecting successful settlement outcomes sought by government and communities, as well as providing the agility to respond to changes in the settlement environment. Initial changes to the Strategy’s coverage, vision statement and outcome areas were decided by Cabinet in July 2023.
The NZ Migrant Settlement Integration Strategy and NZ Refugee Resettlement Strategy Refresh Project
The changes proposed as part of the Refresh Project will result in further work to fully develop and embed the new strategy. This work will include developing new ways to measure success and ensuring we have the data we need to measure progress against the new outcomes.
Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa — Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre
The Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre helps refugees ease into life and work in New Zealand.
Refugees who enter New Zealand under the Refugee Quota Programme spend their first 5 weeks at the Centre. New Zealand receives about 1500 refugees each year under the quota.
Refugees receive help to prepare for life in New Zealand and to move into the community. Services offered at the centre include English language classes, health screening and mental health support.
The Centre was rebuilt following approval of the New Zealand Refugee Resettlement Strategy and government financial commitments in Budgets 2013 and 2014. The rebuilt Centre was opened on 18 June 2016 as part of the World Refugee Day celebrations.