Settling In Palmerston North and Feilding - Human Rights Commission

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Progress to Date and Priority Actionsfor the Next 12 Months4.1 Progress to DateSince the inception of the Settling In project in Palmerston North and Feilding and the process to develop this community report, a significantamount of related work has already been achieved. Some of these achievements are noted below:• 30 focus groups were held, resulting in the coming together and formalising of some ethnic communities for the first time (including Malaysian,Indonesian and Kenyan groups). This has also resulted in new members for the Manawatu Multicultural Council.• The Palmerston North Forum of Former Refugees has been established, with representation at the National Refugee Forum. Forum membersare from the Burmese, Bhutanese, Congolese, Rwandan and Cambodian communities, with Algerian and Somalian members representingthe Mosque.• Refugee youth are involved in an upcoming Te Papa exhibition, with a young woman from the Rwandan community appointed as the localcoordinator.• The Ethkick09 soccer tournament was successfully implemented – involving 38 different teams representing as many different ethniccommunities – and plans for Ethkick10 are to proceed.SETTLING IN PALMERSTON NORTH AND FEILDING• An Ethnic Committee in Feilding was formed as a result of the focus groups.• A women-only swimming group was established at Freyberg pool (with women lifeguards on duty) to provide swimming, exercise andsocialisation opportunities for women from cultures who feel uncomfortable swimming with men.• Interpreting workshops were successfully held by Interpreting New Zealand.• ‘Rainbow Praise’ was initiated in Palmerston North to bring together all of the different faiths in the community to celebrate, sing and share theirspirituality.• A research project on ‘Diversity in the Workplace’ was completed, based on an international study benchmarking employment practice inAustria and Netherlands as well as New Zealand, and conducted locally by the Office of Ethnic Affairs and Vision Manawatu through VictoriaUniversity.• Key tertiary institutions (IPC, UCOL, Massey) have become involved in the Settling In project, enabling a focus on the interface betweenrefugee/migrant issues and international student issues, and an alignment with broader institutional research objectives.• The newly established Palmerston North Forum of Former Refugees organised a celebration for World Refugee Day and PNCC provided theConvention Centre for a very successful event.• A Human Rights Commission certificate was awarded to DIA, Anglican Friendship Centre, Refugee Services and English Language Partnersto recognise the success of a collaborative programme for older refugees – ‘The Communal Language Discussion Group’.• Ongoing collaboration between government agencies, local councils and NGOs in relation to issues for refugees and migrants.4.2 Priority Actions for the Next 12 MonthsA large number of actions have been suggested throughout the report. Some of these have been accorded a higher priority than others, dependingon identified need and the resources available. The following actions have been highlighted as priorities for the next 12 months:• Develop a Programme of Action as a framework to underpin the ongoing implementation and review of the suggestions and actions identifiedin this Settling In report. This will include the establishment of sector working groups to look at the actions recommended for each of the keyfindings areas, and to progress as agreed.• Develop a central contact / distribution point for information and advice to migrants and former refugees settling in Palmerston North andFeilding.• Develop a written resource for newcomers to Palmerston North and Feilding.• Establish Newcomers Networks in Palmerston North and Feilding.72• Establish a Volunteer Centre in Palmerston North.
ReferencesEducation New Zealand (2005) Interactions with International Students, prepared by Fellows and Associates of the Centre for Applied Cross-culturalResearch, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington.Education New Zealand (2007) International Students: Studying and staying on in New Zealand, prepared for Education New Zealand and the Department ofLabour, Wellington.Ho, ES, WW Li, J Cooper and P Holmes (2007) The experiences of Chinese international students in New Zealand, University of Waikato, Hamilton.Infometrics, NRB & Skinner Strategic (2008) The Economic Impact of Export Education, Education NZ and Ministry of Education, WellingtonMcGrath, T, A Butcher, J Pickering and H Smith (2005) Engaging Asian communities in New Zealand, Asia New Zealand Foundation, Wellington.McGrath, TM and A Butcher (2004) Campus-Community Linkages in the Pastoral Care of International Students with specific reference to Palmerston North,Wellington and Christchurch, for the Ministry of Education and Education New Zealand, Wellington.Manawatu District Council (2009) Our Plan 2009–19 Long Term Council Community Plan (www.mdc.govt.nz).Ministry of Education (2007) Experiences of International Students in New Zealand: Report 2007 on the results of the National Survey, Ministry of Education,Wellington.Ministry of Social Development (2007) The Social Report 2007, MSD, Wellington.Ministry of Social Development & The Office of Ethnic Affairs (2008) Connecting Diverse Communities: Report on 2007 public engagement, MSD & OEA,WellingtonPalmerston North City Council (2009) Ten Year Plan 2009/19, Long Term Council Community Plan (www.pncc.govt.nz).Statistics New Zealand (2006) Census Data.Ward, C and A-M Masgoret (2004) The Experiences of International Students in New Zealand: Report on the results of the National Survey, Ministry ofEducation, Wellington.AppendicesAppendix 1Process and Methodology – Focus Groups and Report DevelopmentFocus GroupsThis report contains the findings from 30 focus groups held in Palmerston North and Feilding with a broad range of ethnic communities. Participants includedmore than 300 people (ranging in age from 5 to 80 years) from Korea, Myanmar, Bhutan, United Kingdom, Fiji, Russia, Pakistan, Netherlands, Puerto Rico,Rwanda, Colombia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Spain, Macedonia, Hong Kong, Yemen, Cambodia, China, Republic of the Congo, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo (DRC), the Philippines and Japan. There was also a separate focus group and report from the local mosque.Each focus group was facilitated by someone familiar with that ethnic community. Critical to the success of this process was to reach the ethnic communitiesthemselves so they could talk about their experiences directly, rather than having this conveyed by others. A training session was held in February 2009, hostedby the PNCC at the Convention Centre and attended by Mayor Naylor. At this meeting (attended by over 30 ethnic participants), the purpose of the project wasexplained and these people were asked to go out to their communities and hold focus groups in informal settings where their people would feel comfortableto share their views. Many of the agencies on the Settling In Working Party also contributed to this process, including taking part in some meetings to gatherinformation on specific issues of interest to them. Interpreters were available where necessary and all information was provided to MSD in English.Report DevelopmentThe focus group material was brought together with information from a range of other sources (reports, research findings, interviews and discussion withinterested parties and those working in the field). This combined information was grouped into areas of interest (see below) and this shapes the format for thekey findings part of this report. Each key findings section also provides some analysis of the issues, notes current services and activities, what is working well,what is not working well and suggested future actions. The findings were grouped as follows:SETTLING IN PALMERSTON NORTH AND FEILDING1. Access to Services 2. Housing Issues3. Healthy Lifestyle 4. Appreciation of Diversity5. Families and Children 6. Knowledge and Skills7. Safety and Security 8. Economic Well-being9. Vibrant and Optimistic Youth 10. Positive Ageing11. International Students.73
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ContentsForewords..................
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Executive SummaryIntroduction and B
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Suggestions for further action incl
Page 10 and 11:
Suggestions for further action incl
Page 12 and 13:
1.3 Background to this ReportPalmer
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Context2.1 Palmerston North and Fei
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Percent ofoverseas bornYears since
Page 18 and 19:
Occupation of New Zealand born and
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Refugee Services trains and provide
Page 23 and 24: • Providing translation and inter
Page 25 and 26: Key FindingsA number of key finding
Page 27 and 28: • ‘NZIS could give migrants a p
Page 29 and 30: What is working well?• ‘Educati
Page 31 and 32: 3.2 HOUSINGCommunity Voices‘How d
Page 33 and 34: Feedback about What is not Working
Page 35 and 36: What is Cultural Diversity? - A loc
Page 37 and 38: • ‘Difficulty to feel accepted
Page 39 and 40: ACTIONPARTNERSDevelop strategies to
Page 41 and 42: 3.4 ECONOMIC WELL-BEINGCommunity Vo
Page 43 and 44: Cost of living• ‘We have 2-3 jo
Page 45 and 46: Existing Services and Activities•
Page 47 and 48: there were more people in the same
Page 49 and 50: ACTIONPARTNERSEnsure information re
Page 51 and 52: just see a specialist if you are si
Page 53 and 54: ACTIONEnsure that any information r
Page 55 and 56: Key Issues (feedback from focus gro
Page 57 and 58: • ‘When my son try to explain w
Page 59 and 60: 3.8 POSITIVE AGEINGCommunity Voices
Page 61 and 62: Cultural Maintenance• ‘As paren
Page 63 and 64: 3.9 SAFETY AND SECURITYCommunity Vo
Page 65 and 66: Feedback about What is Working Well
Page 67 and 68: Focus Group Suggestions• More act
Page 69 and 70: 3.11 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTSCommunit
Page 71 and 72: in the Settling In discussions and
Page 73: • Free weekly English conversatio
Page 77 and 78: Ethnic groups 2006In 2006, Palmerst
Page 79 and 80: Appendix 4Diversity in the Workplac
Page 81: InclusionInclusion in a society is
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