Launch of the Waitakere Settlement Support New Zealand Initiative

Tena ra koutou katoa e nga iwi o te motu; Namaste, Ni hao, Salamalikum, Talofa, Malo e lelei,

I acknowledge my friend and colleague the Hon Chris Carter, Mayor Bob Harvey, Ann Pala, President of Waitakere Ethnic Board, Taha Fasi, Chairperson of Pacific Island Advisory Board and Colin Dale newly appointed chair of the Auckland Regional Migrant Trust.

It is a pleasure for me to be here today at the launch of the Waitakere Settlement Support Initiative.

Last year, the Government launched the New Zealand Settlement Strategy.

The strategy recognises that migration is a process that does not stop at the border. For New Zealand to benefit to the fullest extent from the skills and energy of new migrants, those migrants must be settled in good jobs and in healthy, vibrant communities.

In achieving this win-win, we acknowledged the need for better settlement assistance for migrants.

New migrants face many challenges. Finding a job, a place to live and schools for children, among other things, can be testing – and support is needed. However, providing this support is not just the responsibility of one agency. The key to providing the best settlement outcomes for migrants, refugees and their families is through integrated, community-based support.

Which brings us here today. Budget 2004 allocated $62 million, to be spent over four years - for a number of practical measures to assist migrants, particularly to access support with English language, employment and information.

This is one of those practical measures. The design of the Settlement Support New Zealand initiative strongly took its inspiration form the New Out West model that has been operating for the last few years now. As a West Auckland MP, I am very proud to see Waitakere once again, setting a nationwide benchmark for community development.

The Waitakere community’s response to settlement, through this grass roots community outreach New Out West network, has focused on identifying the priority issues and facilitating projects or activities that can address these issues.

It is not about funding a new service or organisation, but about working collaboratively with the community and a rich network of service providers.

This initiative provides funding for a coordination function, to support collaboration on settlement, as well as making it clear to migrants and refugees where they can go for support as they cope with life in a new country.

I am pleased to note that the initiative we are launching today is closely linked to the four local CABs – in Henderson, New Lynn, Massey and Glen Eden – and that you have appointed two staff, one of whom will support the increased settlement role for these CABs.

Waitakere has a strong foundation to support this new Settlement Support New Zealand initiative – in addition to the New Out West network, you have the Waitakere Ethnic Board and your Library and Information Services launched a New Settlers’ Guide in 2004.

It is important that immigrants feel welcome in the local community where they settle, and can access the services they need to establish themselves and their families here.

And what better community to be launching this initiative than Waitakere? This is a warm, vibrant, diverse community that values migrants and welcomes their contribution.

We are very keen to make the settlement process as easy as possible and the Settlement Support New Zealand initiative will contribute significantly to welcoming newcomers and supporting through that process.

Government is delighted to work with the Waitakere City Council as lead agency, and with other local organisations on this new Settlement Support New Zealand initiative, and strengthen our joint vision of supporting settlement in Waitakere.

Together, with the migrant and ethnic communities themselves – we are building a nation. The Aotearoa/New Zealand that we will leave to our children, and their children will be proud, diverse, colourful and tolerant. It will have a heart big enough for all New Zealanders – whatever their origins – to feel at home. In this way they will contribute to us all being the best that we can be.

I congratulate the people gathered here today to celebrate the fruition of all their hard work together and I am sure that the Settlement Support New Zealand initiative launched today will benefit all new immigrants in the Waitakere region

Thank you