for new migrants. The reviews also identified opportunities
to improve effectiveness, including reaching out to more
clients.
The Settlement Support New Zealand (SSNZ) initiative,
which provides assistance to new migrants via 18 local
offices around the country, was found to be successful
and delivered a high level of client satisfaction. However,
despite this success, Immigration New Zealand has
announced that change is needed.
From 2014, the programme will be targeted at priority
migrants, those with skills who can make a substantial
contribution to the New Zealand economy. Plans include
developing a centralised contact centre and online
services as well as employing new retention specialists
who will work with local employers, businesses and
councils. Some regional providers of settlement services
are concerned that the majority of migrants currently
needing assistance will not be considered “priority”. In
addition these individuals may have difficulty in accessing
web-based or contact centre services. The changes could
shrink the resources available to local communities to
support new migrants and reduce the availability of faceto-face advice and advocacy services.
Kuia Sally Pitama welcomes Glenda Guo at the Christchurch Migrant
Centre visit to Rehua Marae.
These changes to SSNZ, together with cutbacks to the
Settling In Programme (a community development
programme overseen by the Ministry of Social
Development that works with migrants, refugees and
communities) have raised questions about what local and
regional settlement services might look like in the future.
New migrants welcomed by Tangata
Whenua
Mäori culture is a taonga of Aotearoa New Zealand. For
newcomers to our country, the opportunity to experience
Mäori culture is an important part of their settlement
journey. Experiencing a marae welcome has become
a valuable way for new migrants to learn about the
significance of Mäori culture. It also enables local iwi to
welcome newcomers as manuhiri (visitors) to the region.
Settlement Support New Zealand and local communities
have organised marae welcomes across the country. The
practice has received global recognition for its ability
to connect indigenous communities with new migrants.
Judi Altinkaya from Immigration New Zealand was
invited to talk about the impact of marae welcomes at an
international Cities of Migration webinar in 2013.
Tüi Tüi Tuituiä | Race Relations in 2013
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