Lack of travel options hamper refugees bound for Levin
Refugees bound for Horowhenua are stuck in Ecuador due to a lack of international flights and safe travel routes.
The quota programme started again in early February after borders around the world were closed due to Covid-19, and the first group of 35 quote refugees arrived within the week.
The 90 refugees bound for Levin were from Colombia, but were in Ecuador waiting to come to New Zealand.
Arrival plans were dependent on the availability of international fights and safe transit routes.
Immigration New Zealand refugee and migrant support general manager Fiona Whiteridge said at this stage, it was not possible for the refugees to settle in Levin.
‘‘Plans will be made when it is possible to ensure safe international travel and transit routes are available.’’
The refugees were to start arriving in June last year, and a group was to arrive every seven-to-eight weeks.
New Zealand Red Cross national migration manager Sue Price said people were seeking asylum in New Zealand because of the hardship they were facing, and Covid-19 was likely to have made their situations worse.
‘‘We are talking about people’s lives here, and we want people to get here because they need our help, and we are saving lives by doing this work.’’
She was happy to do the work and spend time with people, but was concerned for those who couldn’t make it into New Zealand.
When refugees arrived, Red Cross provides caseworkers and volunteers who worked with families to welcome and help them settle into their new home.
Volunteers made the new homes comfortable for their arrival, and introduced them to the area, neighbours, local schools and a GP clinic.
‘‘All of those things you need to know when you are in a new area and finding out how the land lies,’’ said Price.
Immigration New Zealand found a mixture of social housing and private rentals for the refugees.
Red Cross general manager of migration Rachel O’connor said the plan to settle 210 people up to June 20 was a good start, but hoped the Government would prioritise its policy of settling 1500 annually.