Links
Government services
Human Rights Commission
A government department which upholds the rights of all New Zealanders and ensures that NZ meets its obligations under the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
Department of Labour (immigration section)
The immigration section of the Department of Labour is the government department that manages immigration in New Zealand. Branches of the Department ensure that NZ meets its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees. They assist in the selection, escort, accommodation and induction of UNHCR refugees.
Office of Ethnic Affairs
The Office of Ethnic Affairs is a government department which provides a referral and information service for ethnic communities and policy to government. It focuses on people whose culture and traditions distinguish them from the majority in NZ.
Refugee Health Service
The Refugee Health Service is part of the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS). The service includes the greater Auckland region. This is a website for refugee health information where you can access up-to- date information on refugees in New Zealand and internationally.
LawAccess is an online legal information service. It's provided by the Legal Services Agency to help people access justice. As well as access to law-related resources the site has a glossary of legal terms, useful freephone numbers and contact details for community law centres. Other information on the site includes NZ Refugee Law and NZ Immigration - Legal Education Series.
Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working in NZ
Auckland Refugee Council
The Auckland Refugee Council is a service provider to asylum seekers, providing emergency accommodation and resettlement projects. The ARCI ensures a safe environment at the Auckland Refugee Centre to residents awaiting the outcome of their refugee status process and facilitates links with government agencies and humanitarian organisations which aid in successful resettlement in New Zealand.
Auckland Regional Migrant Service
Provides information, advice and support to migrants and refugees.
Auckland Refugee Community Coalition
To advocate refugee community voices and promote sustainable integrated refugee resettlement programmes.
Christchurch Resettlement Services
Christchurch Resettlement provides social work, counselling, information and advice, health promotion and literacy classes to refugee families and individuals, working very closely with Refugee Resettlement.
Ph: (03) 377 0292
English Language Partners New Zealand (formerly ESOL Home Tutors)
The aim of English Language Partners New Zealand is to assis non-English speaking New Zealanders to participate in their community. The organisation provides different English language programmes. A volunteer tutor can come to the learner's home. There are also community English groups, ESOL-literacy classes and a programme to help workers with their English: "English for Employees" Learn more
The Friends of Refugees Trust is a group of Refugee Resettlement volunteer support workers and others working mainly with refugees from Burma on the North Shore, currently raising money to support volunteer English teachers in refugee camps on the Thai/Burmese border. Their general aim is "to assist refugees within NZ to meet their educational, economic and social welfare needs".
Global Focus Aotearoa (formerly the Development Rescoure Centre)
Global Focus Aotearoa is a specialist provider of information and education on global and development issues. Their website gives quick access to a free lending library, magazines, teaching resources, email updates, training information and much more.
Migrant Action Trust
This website is a new resource for migrants and refugees looking for employment and alternatives to employment.
This website provides the full text of all the leading decisions of New Zealand's Refugee Status Appeals Authority (RSAA) as well as the practice notes of the RSAA. The website was created and is maintained as a public service by Roger Haines QC. It is a very good source of information on current New Zealand refugee issues and statistics.
Porirua Living Without Violence
Provides support and education programmes for women who have been or are living with family violence, group and individual behaviour changes programmes for men, Tamariki/children's educational programmes to assist children work through the impacts of being a witness or survivor of family violence.
Refugees As Survivors Auckland
This agency offers counselling services for refugees who have experienced trauma and/or torture.
Refugees As Survivors Wellington
Offering counselling services for refugees who have experienced trauma and/or torture
Refugee Family Reunification Trust
Many refugees in Wellington were forced to flee their own country due to war and persecution, and may have lost contact with their immediate family. They have permanent residence in New Zealand but find it difficult to begin a new life knowing that loved ones remain behind in a refugee camp or similar appalling situations. The most important factor in the successful resettlement of refugees in New Zealand is family reunification, but the costs involved often prevent families from being reunited. This is the reason that the Refugee Family Reunification Trust was set up.
International Organisation
Information about the Canadian Council for Refugees. Canada is another country which accepts an annual quota of refugees.
The DRC works for viable solutions that can help and protect refugees around the world and in Denmark.
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance.
International Organisation for Migration
IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. Established in 1951 as an intergovernmental organization to resettle European displaced persons, refugees and migrants, IOM has now grown to encompass a variety of migration management activities throughout the world.
The NRC is a voluntary organisation involved in refugee questions and international refugee work. Norway is another country which accepts an annual quota of refugees
The RCA is an NGO which provides information on and advocacy for refugees and humanitarian entrants in Australia. The site includes analysis and statistics on Australia's refugee resettlement and asylum programs and commentary on areas of government policy which affect both refugees and those who work with them.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is an impartial, non-political humanitarian organisation mandated by the United Nations to lead and co-ordinate international action for the world-wide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems. The Regional Office for New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific is in Canberra. This office provides legal, resettlement and information services.