Partner Profile

Sonny Alesana

Community Liaison Adviser, Settlement Support
DDI +64 3 546 0305
Fax +64 3 546 0239
0800 776 948 toll free in New Zealand

New Zealand Settlement Support - Nelson Tasman

Nearly 20 percent of New Zealand citizens and residents were born in another country. Migrants and refugees who settle successfully in New Zealand are able to make a significant contribution to New Zealand's economic growth and become part of our local, regional and national communities.

The first two to three years of settlement are the most challenging for migrants and refugees. One key challenge in settling in a new country is a lack of local knowledge that may mean people miss out on the support and services that are available to them.

Newcomers to New Zealand can

- feel welcomed, accepted, and respected
- obtain employment appropriate to their skills
- be supported to confidently communicate in English
- access information and responsive services
- maintain their cultural identities
- feel safe
- accept, respect, and contribute to the New Zealand way of life.

Establishment of Settlement Strategy

Government recognised the need to improve services that support settlement and launched the New Zealand Settlement Strategy in 2004.

The New Zealand Settlement Strategy is for New Zealanders and for those new to New Zealand. It is achieved when newcomers to New Zealand feel welcomed and well settled. In recent years, New Zealand has welcomed about
50,000 newcomers (migrants, refugees and their families) as permanent residents each year. Almost 60% of them are in skilled or business immigration categories, 30% are in the family sponsorship category and 10% come to New Zealand as part of our international and humanitarian commitments.

Approximately one-fifth of newcomers who arrive as permanent residents ultimately leave New Zealand. Whilst highly skilled migrants are likely to be more globally mobile, New Zealand’s prosperity will be enhanced by retaining as many of them as possible, and maximising their contribution while they are here. The New Zealand Settlement Strategy provides a broad framework to help us achieve good settlement outcomes for the wide range of newcomers and for New Zealand. It will help us achieve a consistent, nationwide approach to the policies we develop and the services we deliver.

The Strategy takes a collaborative approach - connecting government agencies, local councils, service providers, and migrants and refugees. Together these parties will plan for initiatives that will achieve the goals of the Strategy.

Programme objectives
There are six goals in the New Zealand National Settlement Strategy.

- Obtain employment appropriate to their qualifications and skills
- Become confident using English in a New Zealand setting or be able to access appropriate language support
- Access appropriate information and responsive services that are available to the wider community (for example housing, education and services for families)
- Form supportive social networks and establish a sustainable community identity.
- Feel safe expressing their ethnic identity and be accepted by and become part of the wider host community
- Participate in civic, community and social activities