North Canterbury News: March 10, 2022

Migrant survey to assess needs
By DAVID HILL
The WaimakaririDistrictCouncilis
keen to hear from migrants still living in
the district.
Covid­19 has changedthe landscape,
with many migrant workers returning to
their home country, while others face
uncertainty around their residency or
employment status,community
development facilitator Carolyn Boswell
says.
The council’s community team is
conductingtwo surveys, one of migrants
living in the Waimakariri district and
the other of employers of migrant
workersand of the agencies who support
them.
The 2018 Census found that there were
3606 peopleliving in the Waimakariri
district who were from another country.
But this number has most likely
changed‘‘andprobably gone down’’ in
the last two years, Ms Boswell says.
‘‘Thesesurveys are timely as we look
towardsopeningthe border and
potentially getting more workers into
the district.
‘‘I’ve heard that some migrantsare
laying low due to their Visa statusand
Covid. It’s atough timefor alot of people
and there is alot of uncertainty.
‘‘Thereisasense that alot left in 2020
to return to their home country, while
others decided to stay and stick it out
and somehave got stuck here as there
aren’t many flightsfor them to get
home.’’
Last year’s changestoResidency Visa
regulations will have given migrants
some relief and Ms Boswell understands
ImmigrationNew Zealand has issued
more than 11,000residency Visas
throughout the countryunderthe new
rules.
Ms Boswell wants to hear from all
migrants living in the district,
Community facilitator ...
regardless of how longthey have lived
here, to learn about their experiences,
what workedfor them and what didn’t.
‘‘We want to get asense of where the
gaps are and what support they need,
and how the council, agencies and
employers can bettersupportand help
people to settleinto the district.’’
She says there are anumber of
potential challengesfor migrants
settling in anew country, as language
and cultural differences ‘‘can be
confusing’’.
‘‘New Zealand structure is veryfluent
Carolyn Boswell is encouraging migrants to have their say.
PHOTO: FILE
compared to other countries, which may
be more hierarchical,sofor people
trying to navigatethe culturallandscape
it can be difficult.
‘‘If we can help themnavigate that
easier,that will make abig difference.’’
To helpengagemigrants, some local
migrants are sharing their stories
throughaseriesofvideosbeing shared
on the Global Locals of Waimakariri ­
Glow pageonFacebook.
To complete the surveys, go to
waimakariri.govt.nz/letstalk.
The surveys run until April4.
25
Optimism
despite loss
of A&P show
NEWS
The North Canterbury News, March 10, 2022
There is plentyofoptimisminthe
Hawarden/Waikari community, despite
the uncertainty of Covid­19.
The cancellation of the Hawarden A&P
Show was amajor blow,but the Hawarden
Ewe Fair provedtobeasuccesswith
higher than expected ewe numbers
resulting in atwo day sale.
Local businessessay it is business as
usual across the two towns, as residents
grapple with the red traffic light setting.
Alocal Hawardenbusiness owner says
the moodofthe town is generally positive,
but some residents are understandably
worried aboutwhat might happenwhen
Covid strikes.
‘‘There’safew campers at the camping
ground, but it has been very quiet and we
haven’t had much of summer,’’ she says.
‘‘Every now and then we get afew visitors
when peopleare going through to Hanmer
and we’ve had afew Aucklanders,but
there’s not many because we’re not on the
main route.’’
In Waikari, alocal business owner says
there are still visitors passing through, but
not as many as normal, which is having an
impact on local cafes.
But she says the mood in the town is ‘‘not
too bad’’.
‘‘We have crackerjack bowls each week
and we’re still doing it under Covid,’’ she
says.
‘‘We maskupand go along and play our
bowls. We just stick to the two teams
playing and don’t mix with the other teams.
Local resident Brona Youngman says the
community is being innovative to tryto
keep activities happening in the area.
‘‘There’s quite alot of projects in play, so
we just have to wait and see, but there’s
definitelysome great ideas out there.’’
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