Huge rise in support for migrants
An upsurge in support needed for stranded migrants over Covid-19 has led to a new name and larger premises for the group helping them in South Canterbury.
Multicultural Aoraki support manager Katy Houstoun said that last year the organisation, formerly known as Aoraki Migrant, supported 1600 people, that number rising to more than 5000 in 2020 – mainly because of the pandemic.
The centre has moved from 3 Sophia St to 27 Sophia St and the new premises were opened in front of more than 50 people on Wednesday.
The organisation was formed in 2004 and supports, connects and celebrates the multicultural communities of Aoraki.
Houstoun said because of Covid-19 ‘‘there were a lot of workers stranded in the Mackenzie who had been made redundant which we helped access support services’’.
She said the organisation’s two staff members had worked long hours, seven days a week, to keep up.
She told the more than 50 people at the opening the staff had coped with such a heavy workload thanks to the support of other agencies and the community.
Since then the Ministry of Social Development had selected the organisation as one of 130 in the country to be a Community Connector, funding the appointment of a new staff member. Houstoun expected the number of those needing support to increase as employment opportunities and cheaper house prices attracted more people from diverse cultures to the district.
Multicultural Aoraki support case manager Mandy Wills said the new premises offered a bigger space and included three offices which could be used by other groups.