According to the Red Cross Service Centre, Palmerston North settled more than 40 households of approximately 160 former refugees over the last 12 months. They include Burmese Muslim, Rohingya from Myanmar, Palestinians from Syria, Afghan Dari speakers, Karen from Myanmar, South Sudanese and Bhutanese Nepali.

The centre trains over 100 volunteers to work in teams to support the new families for between three to six months. Many volunteers return for second, third and sometimes more placements. Others beaver away in the background doing a variety of tasks.

There are the set-up team of five volunteers who sort the household goods; the St Vincent de Paul Society who have for many years provided food parcels for new families; ‘the Flower Lady’, an elderly volunteer who provides flowers for adults on their arrival; the Toy Sorters who co-ordinate toy boxes for the children.

There is now a strong and well-supported community of former refugees settled into Palmerston North, making it a good place for family sponsors to welcome their relatives. Since the formation of the Manawatu Reuniting Refugee Families Trust early in 2017, set up to help former refugee families, they have been fundraising and making themselves known to the community of former refugees and their supporters.

Based in the city, the Trust covers the Central Districts areas of Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatu. To date it has provided financial assistance to bring one family over here, which has been immensely rewarding. The family is now well settled in their new home. The two young men, the sponsor’s cousins, are attending English Teaching College, the parents are enrolled at English Language Partners, the eldest cousin is eager to find work once his English is good enough, the younger cousin has good English and is keen to enrol at UCOL in an IT course.

We have a rental housing shortage in Palmerston North, so there were problems finding accommodation for the family. They now live in a good house in a good location and the sponsor’s uncle is looking forward to Spring to establish a vegetable garden. Another sponsor has approval to bring family members to New Zealand, and preparations are underway.

The Trust has accepted applications from three families waiting to be approved by the New Zealand authorities for admission under the family sponsorship scheme and then the financial assistance committed to them.

While the Trust awaits more donations and funding it is not accepting new applications. The costs of sponsoring family members varies – for example, a family of four with airfares from Afghanistan plus medical fees, can be as much as $12,000. To donate to the Manawatu Reuniting Refugee Families Trust, go online to: givealittle.co.nz/org/manawaturrft

Of all the ways to help a former refugee settle into their new community, enabling them to bring close family members to join them is the best. To find out more about the regulations governing family sponsorship, go to ‘Sponsorship – Refugee Family Support Category’ on the Immigration New Zealand website (immigration.govt.nz).

Mary Nash, Manawatu Reuniting Refugee Families Trust.

Published in WelCom June 2018.