Refugee quota set to rise

Invercargill’s leaders welcome any increase in the number of refugees settling in the city, but share concerns about where they are going to live.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday that New Zealand’s annual refugee quota will lift from 1000 to 1500 in 2020.

Some of the country’s new residents may make the south their new home after the city was selected as a new refugee settlement location in 2017.

Around 90 mainly Colombian refugees are expected to be settled in Invercargill every year but that number could increase under the new quota.

Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt said any new refugees to the city would be welcomed.

‘‘I’m sure they’d be welcomed by all sorts of organisations, not just the Red Cross but all sorts of multicultural organisations.

‘‘The challenge will be housing, especially if they come from a warm country because the only houses that seem to be available here are cold damp ones at the moment.’’

He said finding employment shouldn’t be too difficult because unemployment in Invercargill was still low.

Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie shared Shadbolt’s concerns about housing.

‘‘While we were pleased to be the latest refugee resettlement town, there is no doubt that if more refugees came to Invercargill, it would place a significant strain on our already tight housing market.’’

Dowie said the Government needed to get its priorities right and keep its promises to Kiwis.

‘‘It costs around $100,000 per person per year to settle refugees to help them integrate and to lead productive lives here in New Zealand. Any increase in the quota needs to be balanced against other national priorities.’’

She said the Government claim they can’t afford to increase pay for teachers or nurses but instead is spending billions on free tertiary education and more diplomats.

NZ Red Cross is contracted by Immigration New Zealand to provide settlement support in the community over the first 12 months.

National Migration Manager South Island Sue Price said the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment sources housing for refugees before they arrive in a new community and settlement numbers were based on various factors which include the availability of housing and jobs.

‘‘We have a Pathways to Employment programme for former refugees in Invercargill and we have had very positive reactions from employers in Southland that we’ve been talking to about job opportunities.

‘‘Former refugees bring all sorts of skills to their new communities; from baking to shoe making and farming to seam stressing, we know that Invercargill will benefit tremendously from the diversity that our new community members bring with them.’’

Price said reaction from the Southland community since Invercargill became a settlement location has been overwhelmingly positive.

‘‘The families who have settled in Invercargill are doing really well. They’ve been incredibly happy to receive such a warm welcome and have really integrated into the community. They’ve been participating in multicultural days in the city, joining sporting teams, and even have a community radio programme.’’

Immigration New Zealand refugee division national manager Andrew Lockhart said the exact number of refugees who will be settled in individual locations from July 2020 onwards is yet to be decided.

Forty four refugees were settled in Invercargill in the 2017-18 financial year and 17 so far this financial year.

Ardern and Minister of Immigration Iain Lees-Galloway said additional resources will be provided to ensure that quota refugees are able to live in safe, secure, healthy and affordable homes which best suit their assessed needs.

‘‘The Government will fund the expansion of public housing supply for around 150 extra refugee families at an estimated total cost of $32.5 million over three years,’’ Lees-Galloway said.

The decision to increase the number of refugees was made in a cabinet subcommittee yesterday.

There are eight settlement locations where quota refugees are settled after they have completed the reception programme at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre: Auckland region, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington region, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. An additional six settlement locations will also be needed on top of the recent reestablishment of Christchurch as a settlement location.

‘‘I’m sure they’d be welcomed by all sorts of organisations ... The challenge will be housing.’’ Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt

KYMBERLEE FERNANDES/STUFF In May, the Government said an extra $6.2 million was being spent over four years on operating funding to support refugees, along with an additional $7.7m for two new accommodation blocks at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre. The Refugee Education Centre at the resettlement centre has 12 classrooms.