We were fortunate to have Jacob Smythe of the red Cross and Phil McCarthy of Anglican Services (AS) talking today on the work they do to settle Refugees into the NZ society. Our Rotary club regularly donate food items to stock the AS “pantry” from which newly housed refugees are supported for 2 weeks of their settling in period in the accommodation.
Refugees are “organised/ assisted by the UN HCR organisation who validate details of prospective refugees.
Global conflicts in the period 2018 – Present have accounted for some 55 million externally displaced people which has grown to 115 million in 2026.
The resettlement process grew out of the need to handle asylum seekers after WW2, mostly Jewish refugees from the German persecution. Today there are several conflicts which cause the population to seek a similar path to the original Jewish refugees but also there several refugees caused by Climate change!
Phil explained the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker. He also summarised who took most Refugees and who the least detailing that NZ have taken Refugees from 22 countries but often the process of applying to be recognised as a Refugee and be resettled with a permit to work in NZ can take several years to complete. Currently NZ are taking 17 new Refugees per year: the whole process overseen by AS who support the Red Cross to supply some of the necessary household things eg Bedding, which help Refugees settle in and feel welcome..
Although AS were represented this morning the Red Cross deal with the Catholic equivalent organisation as well
Finally at the end of June this year they had helped settle 14 Refugees.