New Zealand's Refugee Intake: An On-site Report

Abstract

New Zealand is known for its active role in receiving refugees. I visited the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre, which is located in the Greater Auckland area, in September 2014. Annually, 750 quota refugees are admitted for permanent residence in six different time groups. They are picked up from overseas refugee camps by New Zealand immigration officials, with the assistance of the UNHCR. The refugees are airlifted to New Zealand at the government's expense. These newcomers all spend a six-week-long training and preparation period together at this centre to get ready for a new life in their adopted country. The welcoming ceremony for a new cohort going through sessions from September to October was held when I visited there. Traditional greetings (hongi) were exchanged in the maori style between the hosting staff members and the newly arrived refugees. They pressed their noses and foreheads to one refugee after another. This symbolical performance transformed distant foreign relationships into warm fellowships. Refugees learn English, as well as social customs and various things of New Zealand. After the temporary life in Mangere, they are sent out to six main geographic centres around New Zealand for permanent settlement. The Refugee Status Branch and the Country Research Branch are located in the city centre. The former determines inland-made claims for refugees or protected persons under international conventions and legislation. The latter supplies the decision-makers with updated country of origin information on the political, economic, social, cultural, and human right situations.