Call for refugees in the provinces
As a tour promoting a refugee quota increase moves up the country, rural regions are saying they would be happy to host newcomers.
Doing Our Bit campaign founder Murdoch Stephens said he had seen a lot of positive sentiment in places where refugees were not currently settled.
‘‘The mayor of Timaru said that they had the infrastructure and they would love to welcome refugees if the Government allowed them.’’
Overseas programmes – such as the Australian Rural Resettle Model, which placed 2000 people each year into rural environments – also tried to match refugees from rural backgrounds.
Stephens said a large contingent of New Zealand’s refugees came from Myanmar, many of whom were farmers who had lived in rural areas.
‘‘If the Government wanted to match people to their skills, there is so much more they could do, and places like Masterton and Wairarapa would be perfect.’’
Masterton is set to host the campaign tour next Wednesday. The keynote speaker will be cycling race director Jorge Sandoval, one of New Zealand’s most prominent and outspoken refugees.
Sandoval fled oppression at the hands of the Pinochet regime in his native Chile in the 1970s.
‘‘I think New Zealand needs more refugees, particularly in Wairarapa. This place would be perfect for refugees because it’s a very close community,’’ he said.
Government support was crucial. ‘‘When I came as a refugee 40 years ago it was totally different from now . ... I had to find a job, do everything, find a house and I didn’t know anything about how to do it.’’
The main focus of Doing Our Bit campaign is to persuade the Government to double the number of people taken into the country as refugees, and double the funding to support them after they arrived.
Political parties such as the Greens and Opportunities Party had refugee increases as part of their policies going into the September general election, Stephens said.
Doing Our Bit tour dates
July 25: Wellington, Sustainability Trust.
July 26: Masterton, Reformed Church of Masterton.
July 27: Hawkes Bay, All Saints Taradale.
July 28: Palmerston North, Hancock Community Centre.
August 1: Whanganui, Quaker Meeting Hall.