Tag : Crucial

Auckland: Researchers found people from refugee backgrounds who arrived in New Zealand between 1997 and 2020. The study was published in 'Kotuitui New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online.' The study asked three broad questions: What are the rates of refugee access to education and state housing, who stays on benefits rather than working, and what factors contribute to income over time? The findings highlight the importance of the first five years in terms of successful economic outcomes, as well as disparities in income and job status between four sub-groups: quota refugees, who are not faring as well, convention refugees, asylum seekers, and those who arrive under the family reunification scheme to join other family members. Quota refugees, of whom New Zealand accepts 1500 per year, already have refugee status (due to a well-founded fear of persecution) before they arrive and go through an initial five-week settlement programme in Auckland; after which they're automatically New Zealand residents and are offered a range of health, education, employment and accommodation support lasting up to two years. The fact that the data reveals this group has the greatest need of support makes sense, as they are often the most vulnerable people in their home countries and include the sub-categories of 'women at risk' and 'medical/disabled', says study lead, Professor Jay Marlowe. "This means the government doesn't 'cherry pick' those who are most likely to contribute to the economy, which makes it a humanitarian programme worth celebrating." For quota refugees, settlement support has been historically provided in the first year (and now, in theory, two). There is a case, looking at this data, for extending this to five years, where marked im ...