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Refugees
Since 1987 New Zealand has committed to accepting about 750 refugees each year. The Government plans to increase the quota to 1,000 in future, and accept 600 refugees from Syria on a one-off basis. But with climate change making parts of the Pacific uninhabitable, some say NZ should take more.
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;" class="bgcolor">National
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Save thisIncrease the refugee quota to 1,000 per year(...)Why
National believes the government has a serious responsibility to protect refugees and to support them in adapting to life in New Zealand. Increasing the quota to 1,000 per year should protect some of the world’s most vulnerable people and demonstrate New Zealand’s commitment to international humanitarian values.
HowNational would increase the refugee quota from 750 to 1,000 per year from 2018.
This increase follows the National Government’s decision to take an additional 250 refugees from Syria in 2017. -
Save thisContinue to pilot the community sponsorship category for additional refugees(...)Why
National believes the government has a serious responsibility to protect refugees and to help them adapt to life in New Zealand. But supporting refugees is expensive and the government can only do so much.
Piloting a community sponsorship programme for additional refugees should identify whether there is sufficient community support to bring more refugees to New Zealand while allowing communities to play their part in addressing the global refugee crisis.
HowNational would pilot a community sponsorship category for up to 25 refugees.
Refugees would need to have a basic understanding of English, have a minimum of three years’ work experience (or a qualification requiring at least two years’ tertiary study), have an acceptable standard of health and be aged between 18 and 45.
Organisations in New Zealand, such as churches and community groups, would be able to sponsor the additional 25 refugees beyond the yearly quota, provided they can commit the necessary resources to supporting the refugees.
The first refugees under the Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship category are expected to arrive in June 2018.
;" class="bgcolor">Labour
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Save thisIncrease the refugee quota to 1,500 per year(...)Why
Labour believes that New Zealand has an obligation to welcome and protect victims of wars and disasters. Doing so shows the moral leadership that New Zealand is renowned for. But right now New Zealand is not doing enough to respond to the global refugee crisis.
HowLabour would increase the refugee quota over three years to 1,500 refugees per year. The current quota is 750 per year.
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Save thisUse refugee policy to address the humanitarian needs of the Rainbow community globally(...)Why
Labour believes that all people should have the same basic rights, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics.
Using refugee policy to meet the humanitarian needs of the Rainbow community globally should help protect the rights and dignity of Rainbow people from around the world.
HowLabour would use refugee policy as a way to address the humanitarian needs of Rainbow people from around the world.
Labour would also oppose the discrimination of GLBTI people around the world, particularly the criminalisation of consensual adult same-sex activity.
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Save thisCreate a refugee category for people displaced by climate change(...)Why
Labour believes that New Zealand has long-standing and special relationships with the Pacific Island nations. These countries are at the frontlines of rising sea levels from climate change, and risk needing to leave their homes through no fault of their own.
A refugee category for people displaced by climate change is necessary to help New Zealand’s Pacific neighbours.
HowLabour would create a refugee category for climate refugees.
Migration policy would be reviewed in cooperation with regional partners and organisations. From this review, an Immigration Pacific Plan would be established that recognises climate refugees.
;" class="bgcolor">Green
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Save thisIncrease the refugee quota to 4,000 per year(...)Why
The Green Party believes that New Zealand is not doing enough to help refugees. Our current quota does not live up to our reputation as a caring country, and is lower per capita than many other countries, including Australia and Canada. Accepting more refugees will make a significant difference to the lives of thousands of families and is the right thing to do.
HowThe Green Party would increase New Zealand’s refugee quota over the next six years to 4,000 places, starting with 2,000 places in 2018 and increasing by 500 every year after that.
As a part of the increase, cuts to the resettlement of refugees from the Middle East and Africa would be reversed. The current quota is 750 per year.
The Green Party estimates the cost of increasing the quota to be an additional $66 million from 2018, rising to $350 million a year when the quota reaches 4,000 places.
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Save thisIncrease the community sponsorship refugee category to 1,000 places per year(...)Why
The Green Party believes that New Zealanders want to do more to help people around the world affected by the global refugee crisis. Increasing the community sponsorship refugee category to 1,000 places should allow the efforts of community groups to translate into real opportunities for more refugees to come to New Zealand.
HowThe Green Party would expand the community sponsorship programme for refugees over the next three years to 1,000 places per year. Currently there are 25 sponsorship places available as part of a pilot programme. The 1,000 community sponsored places would be in addition to the 4,000 refugees per year accommodated under the government quota.
Under the community sponsorship programme, church and community groups can sponsor additional refugees beyond the yearly quota, provided they can help support them with housing, work, education and language learning. The groups can work with the UN Refugee Agency to identify potential candidates for sponsorship. Community groups would provide housing and support with work, education and language learning. -
Save thisCreate a refugee category for people displaced by climate change(...)Why
The Green Party believes that climate change will only make the global refugee crisis worse. New Zealand needs to provide new homes for those forced out of their communities by rising seas and extreme droughts, particularly in the Pacific. New Zealand is already working through the United Nations to develop ways to assist people displaced by climate change but this is a slow process and New Zealand should lead the way.
HowThe Green Party would trial a new humanitarian visa for people displaced by climate change in the Pacific. 100 places per year would be available to applicants from any Pacific Island nation who have a genuine fear of permanent displacement because of environmental changes or damage due to climate change.
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Save thisBuild a second resettlement centre for refugees(...)Why
The Green Party believes that New Zealand’s one resettlement centre in Māngere is not enough to properly support new refugee, particularly if the annual quota is increased.
HowThe Green Party would build a second resettlement centre for refugees. Some of the construction and maintenance costs would be covered by requiring wealthy immigrants who gain residency under the Investor and Investor Plus categories to invest a portion of their required investments into the resettlement centre.
The Green Party estimates the new centre would cost an additional $30-40 million, depending on the location and availability of Crown land and the potential for partnerships with local government.
;" class="bgcolor">NZ First
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Save thisConsult with local councils when deciding on refugee settlement locations(...)Why
New Zealand First believes that refugees shouldn’t be set up to fail by being settled in locations which are not suitable due to a lack of jobs or housing. But in the past the government hasn’t properly consulted local councils in places like Invercargill when selecting new refugee settlement locations.
HowNew Zealand First would consult with local councils when deciding on refugee settlement locations.
;" class="bgcolor">ACT
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Save thisIncrease the refugee quota in line with population growth(...)Why
ACT believes that coming to New Zealand can make a big difference to the lives of refugees, and refugees have the potential to contribute greatly to New Zealand. But the current refugee quota doesn’t increase with population growth as it should.
HowACT would increase the refugee quote in line with population growth. The current quota is 750 per year.
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Save thisRequire new citizens and refugees to sign a statement of commitment to New Zealand values(...)Why
ACT believes immigrants should be willing to commit to New Zealand values, such as equality, free speech and the rule of law as a condition of citizenship. Requiring people applying for citizenship to sign a statement of commitment to New Zealand values would provide an opportunity to clearly state to new citizens what New Zealand’s values are.
HowACT would require new citizens and refugees to sign a statement of commitment to New Zealand values as a condition of citizenship, including free speech, free assembly, freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, respect for property rights and the rule of law.
;" class="bgcolor">TOP
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Save thisIncrease the refugee quota to 3,000 per year(...)Why
The Opportunities Party believes that New Zealand must not turn its back on those who have been displaced from their homelands by forces beyond their control. The current refugee intake is inadequate and New Zealand can do much better.
HowThe Opportunities Party would increase New Zealand’s refugee quota to 3,000 per year over the term of the next Parliament. The current quota is 750 per year.
;" class="bgcolor">Māori Party
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Save thisIncrease the refugee quota(...)Why
The Māori Party believes manaakitanga must be extended to all peoples coming to Aotearoa. The refugee quota should be increased.
HowThe Māori Party would increase the refugee quota.
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Save thisCreate a refugee category for people displaced by climate change(...)Why
The Māori Party believes that Māori and Pacific people share common ancestral origins and have shared aspirations for whanau and aiga (family) of the Pacific living in Aotearoa. Rising sea levels due to climate change will likely force some Pacific people to flee their homes and they should be welcomed in New Zealand.
HowThe Māori Party would create a special visa category for climate change refugees from the Pacific.
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Save thisIncrease support for refugee settlement and integration(...)Why
The Māori Party believes manaakitanga must be extended to all peoples coming to Aotearoa. Support for refugees experiencing hardship should be increased.
HowThe Māori Party would amend the law to ensure it supports the settlement and integration of newly arrived immigrants and refugees.
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Save thisProvide migrants and refugees with internships and jobs in the regions(...)Why
The Māori Party believes that while immigration is bringing positive changes, it needs to be closely watched.
Migrants are often unable to find valuable work in the main centres and their skills could be put to better use in the regions. Living in the regions should also help migrants to learn the New Zealand way of life.
HowThe Māori Party would establish programmes to provide jobs and internships for have refugees and migrants in the regions.
One programme would be the Community Internships Scheme. This would provide internships to migrants and refugees with skills in demand in the regions. This would likely include builders, doctors, beekeepers and plumbers. The internships would be paid.
Work under the internship would also contribute to the current visa points system for residency.
The Māori Party would also establish a Regional Cadetship programme. This would enable new migrants and refugees to work in a job relevant to their existing qualifications while undertaking accredited training or study to have those skills, qualifications and experience recognised here in Aotearoa.