Lockdown delays refugees

Marlborough’s new Colombian refugees have arrived in New Zealand and will remain in Auckland for the duration of the fourweek nationwide lockdown.

Eleven Colombian nationals arrived in New Zealand on March 13 and were set to become Blenheim’s first refugee intake late next month.

Plans to resettle refugees have been ‘‘temporarily suspended’’ during the period of Covid-19 alert level 4, which has the nation under lockdown for the next four weeks.

Blenheim resident Catalina Suarez had registered to be a support person for the first intake of refugees and was disappointed their arrival had been postponed.

As a Colombian, who arrived New Zealand five years ago, she had been looking forward to connecting with the new arrivals.

‘‘Maybe we can understand many things that other people cannot understand, so I feel a little bit disappointed for that,’’ she said.

She imagined it would be strange for the Colombians to leave their home countries only to be placed under lockdown in New Zealand.

‘‘Because of all the situations they have had in the past: the difficulty that they had to be displaced from their original homes, to go to Ecuador and from Ecuador arrive here, and then here go into lockdown.

‘‘It must be such a hard situation for them and I hope they’re OK with the support they have there.’’

She said she would focus on having the ‘‘best energy’’ for the new arrivals when they did arrive, as Colombians were usually very happy people. ‘‘A smile, for us, is a good sign,’’ she said.

An Immigration NZ spokeswoman said the refugees were in the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre in Auckland and had access to health professionals and support staff.

Education packs had been prepared for the children and recreational activities organised to keep people active.

Up to 100 refugees were set relocate to Blenheim in 2020, with three to five families arriving every eight weeks. It would be the first time Blenheim had been a resettlement location for refugees, following the Government’s decision in 2018 to increase the annual refugee quota to 1500.

Red Cross South Island migration manager Sue Price said it was not an ideal start for the new arrivals.

‘‘It’s not really the experience we wanted them to have, but it’s to save lives, which is what Red Cross is all about.’’

She said Red Cross had received 70 inquiries from Marlburians wanting to volunteer as refugee support workers for the new arrivals.

They had expected to train 18 volunteers within the next month, which would be delayed in light of level 4 Covid-19 restrictions.

It may be possible for volunteers to reach out to the new arrivals with a letter, she said.

‘‘Trying to introduce them to what Blenheim’s going to be like, and keep them excited about coming and the community’s really excited about them arriving.’’

As the coronavirus could change people’s plans over the following months, Red Cross was still interested hearing from people keen to volunteer with the refugee resettlement.