Speech for the Parliamentary Breakfast for World Refugee Day

Welcome. It is my great pleasure to be hosting this breakfast today to acknowledge World Refugee Day, which occurs a week from today.

I would like to pass on my thanks to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand, who have initiated this event. I would especially like to welcome from Australia Mr Rick Towle, the Regional Representative from the UNHCR.

I would also like to acknowledge the other Members of Parliament present here today and distinguished guests.

World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day carries a very challenging message to the world – that one family torn apart by war is too many.

New Zealand is proud of its contribution over the years to providing solutions to the world’s refugee problem. There are a large number of refugees in the world today – with 10.5 million people currently of concern to UNHCR. New Zealand’s commitment since we began resettling young Polish refugees in 1944 has given approximately 33,000 refugees the opportunity to seek a better future here.

Over the years, the faces of refugees have changed – from the refugees of the Second World War in Europe, to those from South East Asia, from Africa and the Middle East, and, more recently, those from South Asia and South America.

But one fact remains constant across all these continents - people have been forced to leave their homeland.

New Zealand is one of only a small number of countries that takes part in UNHCR’s regular refugee resettlement programme. New Zealand remains committed to our international obligations through the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and to the 1967 Protocol.

Through the annual quota of 750 refugees, through our refugee and protection determination processes, and through our family reunification policies, New Zealand will continue to give refugees from around the world an opportunity – a chance of a new life, a chance to put down roots and make a new place home.

Contribution of Refugees to New Zealand
The Government’s commitment plays an important role, and so does the commitment of the range of organisations that support refugee resettlement. Providing warm welcome and giving refugees the foundations on which to establish a future is something that we are all committed to.

However, it is the determination of refugees themselves that plays perhaps the greatest role.

Two weeks ago, I addressed the National Refugee Resettlement Forum, held here in Wellington. I was impressed to see the numbers of former refugee participants who are actively engaged in dialogue at the Forum with government and non-government agencies, and with the UNHCR.

The theme for the Forum was “Breaking Barriers, Building on Resilience”, and there was a strong focus on how to overcome barriers to employment.

Employment offers a way for refugees to take part in New Zealand life, to connect with Kiwis, to up-skill, and to improve their English. A job enables families to be independent, self-sufficient, and to improve their lives.

One of the highlights were stories from 3 refugees with very different backgrounds.

Emile Pacifique, who was a pastor in his home country of the Congo, is now a social worker in Wellington. He had to adjust his initial career expectations when arriving in New Zealand, and he overcame initial barriers to finding work by working as a volunteer in the mental health area, which resulted in the offer of a permanent position. He and his family bought a house and in seven years became mortgage free. This is a fantastic achievement.

Beda Dahal, from Bhutan, came to New Zealand in early 2010 as a trained teacher. However, on finding her qualifications were not recognised here, she took the opportunity to retrain as an early childhood teacher and is currently doing her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education whilst working part time at an Early Learning Centre. All of this, whilst being a mother of three and within two years of arriving in New Zealand.

And finally Bruck Gebreselassie, who came to New Zealand as a 16-year-old, knowing only 100 words in English. Bruck completed his sixth and seventh form at Mt Albert Grammar and completed his Masters in Civil Engineering at Auckland University. He now works for an engineering firm in Auckland.

These stories are inspirational and demonstrate the extent to which resettlement is a life-changing experience, with both challenges and rewards.

These people have worked hard to overcome the challenges of arriving in a country where the society, language, culture, and indeed the labour market is completely different from what they were used to.

Future Focus
Despite the many success stories, we know there is always room for improvement. In short, we want better outcomes for refugees.
You will know that the Government’s election manifesto contains a commitment to roll out a whole-of-government strategy that will support refugees to become self-sufficient and participate in New Zealand communities, while reducing dependency on state support.

This is a major piece of work for the Government. I took the strategy to my Cabinet colleagues earlier in the year, and decisions have been made to progress a Detailed Business Case for the strategy.

Once that is completed, and Cabinet have considered it, I will make a further announcement on the plan later this year.

Whatever the outcome, the Government remains strongly committed to resettling 750 quota refugees annually and supporting those refugees to adapt to life in New Zealand.

Many people here today have been actively involved in developing the Refugee Resettlement Strategy process so far. Your contributions are valuable because it’s very important that we hear from people at the coal face, and from a refugee perspective.

Conclusion
Let me finish by thanking again all of you for demonstrating here today your support for New Zealand’s refugee resettlement programme. It is my great pleasure to mark the importance of World Refugee Day with you here today and I thank the UNHCR and Refugee Services Aotearoa for the opportunity to do so.

Thank you.