Housing a challenge, but migrant group going strong
Finding somewhere to live was one of biggest challenges for migrants to Fiordland, with some opting to live and work elsewhere.
More than a year after it was founded, a migrants group established in Te Anau is making newcomers feel welcome in the busy tourist town.
The group was started in September last year by Te Anau community worker Dale Wairau to help migrants settle into the Fiordland community.
Housing was a key challenge migrants to the community faced when the group was started, and it still is. There was a lack of emergency housing, long-term rentals and houses for first home buyers, Wairau said.
Wairau knew of a couple who had work lined up but could not take the jobs because they could not find housing. They moved to Cromwell instead.
The group has held several events and has regular gettogethers for migrants to meet each other.
This year, the migrants held a Matariki celebration, which around 90 people attended, and it also hosted a mid-winter festival, Wairau said.
Members have also helped out
‘‘We’re making things happen. Trying to keep it local and real.’’ Dale Wairau, Te Anau community worker
with other community events, like disc golf, to build more relationships within the community, he said.
The group has had some success with building a profile after Wairau asked some of the migrants to write their stories down. One woman, who was from the Maltese Islands, had a phenomenal story about coming to New Zealand to be a teacher, Wairau said.
Several members involved with the group were teachers so there was an opportunity to establish some English language classes next year, he said.
‘‘We’re making things happen. Trying to keep it local and real.’’
To date, the group has had no funding and was putting on events off its own back.
While at times they have wanted to ask for funding, the group has felt that they do not want to be a burden on the community, Wairau said.
A good team of volunteers kept the group running, he said.
Wairau said he was looking forward to 2019 and seeing how the group would build on its success.
‘‘We’re enjoying the challenge.’’