New Zealand's migrant and refugee policies have been updated
Both the New Zealand Migrant Settlement and Integration Strategy (NZMSIS) and the New Zealand Refugee Resettlement Strategy (NZRRS) have been updated.
Two cross-government initiatives, the NZRRS and NZMSIS, seek to facilitate former refugees' and recent migrants' integration into Aotearoa New Zealand.
In late 2021, work to revise the strategy got under way. The goal was to ensure the following tactics:
- maintain your effective assistance for future successful settlement, and
- are nimble and capable of adapting to alterations in the settlement environment.
Involving previous refugees, migrants, iwi, community groups, non-government organizations (NGOs), and companies was essential to the update. The majority of the updates are a result of their input.
The process to implement changes has already begun at numerous federal agencies.
To continue the collaboration with iwi and local councils to create welcoming communities and foster a sense of belonging for newcomers, funding for the Welcoming Communities Programme in 2023/24 has been increased by $2.5 million.
Funding for those seeking asylum
Additionally, Cabinet decided to realign $1 million in financing over the following two years. Asylum seekers will receive welfare assistance while their claims are being processed.
The NZ Refugee Resettlement Strategy Refresh Project and the NZ Migrant Settlement Integration Strategy
The New Zealand Refugee Resettlement Strategy (NZRRS) and New Zealand Migrant Settlement Integration Strategy (NZMSIS) are being updated by INZ to make sure they continue to successfully promote successful settlement in the future. Additionally, they want to make sure that they are quick to adapt to changes in the settlement environment.
The refresh will concentrate on examining both techniques' success indicators to make sure they remain appropriate. INZ wants these measures to more accurately reflect the successful settlement outcomes that the state and its citizens desire.
The update will examine the types of migrants and refugees that each strategy is intended to assist.
Exploring alternative refugee cohorts, such as convention refugees, will be part of the NZ Refugee Resettlement Strategy. Examining earlier suggestions to enhance settlement assistance for migrants falling under the Samoa Quota and Pacific Access Category will be part of the Migrant Strategy.
Temporary migrants won't be included in the Migrant Strategy's scope, according to INZ. However, following the refresh, additional work may be done to support migrant workers.
The Refresh's objectives are to:
- Deliver updated, government-aligned national strategies that better help refugees and migrants.
- Strengthen the metrics for both strategies' success and raise the effectiveness of the data gathering used to produce these metrics.
- If new metrics are required for the outcome areas and success indicators, create them.
- Offer priority areas for both strategies' implementation during the following five years.
Community participation
The Refresh has placed a high priority on collaboration with former refugees, immigrants, iwi, community organizations, NGOs, and enterprises. 720+ persons were involved in 20 face-to-face sessions, 6 online sessions, 50 co-design sessions, and 474 responses to online questionnaires, many of which represented groups, according to Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
Women, young people, migrants from the Pacific, members of the Rainbow community, migrants with disabilities, migrants with impairments and major health concerns, and asylum seekers all received special attention at separate engagement sessions. All of these groups have historically been missing or underrepresented in interaction.
