Migrants are people who have left their country of origin to
take up residence in another country. The term Migrants
generally refers to people who decide to make New Zealand their new
home. Refugees are those who need to leave their country for
many reasons (war, conflict, personal safety) and are not able to
return. They have little choice in leaving or in the choosing
of their new country.
Effective resettlement of new migrants is important both for the
migrant and host communities since it increases social cohesion and
helps migrants to achieve their full potential. Refugees and asylum
seekers who have already experienced considerable trauma need
particular support to ensure positive resettlement.
The availability of interpreter services and ESOL classes for
non-English speakers is also vital. Provision of interpreter
services, especially for refugee communities, has improved
significantly in Christchurch over the past 10 years.
Read the full issue summary on support for migrants
and refugees [PDF].