Belong Aotearoa Sector Update 21 May 2026
Kia ora e te whānau,
Earlier this month we marked Mother's Day, which for me was bittersweet: my teenage children marked the day with a few small gestures, while it still unfolded around the usual invisible labour that keeps life moving. And, as my first Mother’s Day since my mother died last year, the recognition that for many of us these days hold love, loss, gratitude, and complexity that rarely fit neatly into a single day.
At Belong Aotearoa, this season has also been marked by several transitions. We recently farewelled (for now) the wonderful Esther, our digital communications specialist, as she prepares to welcome her first child and begins her own journey into motherhood while her close family remains far away in Kenya. This is a story many women in our migrant and refugee-background communities know well: the excitement and uncertainty of becoming a mother on this whenua, often at a distance from family and familiar support networks, while building a life in Aotearoa. We send Esther all our aroha. We will also soon farewell two of our Board members, Tayyaba Khan and Lynette Adams, who have completed their full terms. Since I joined the organisation a year and a half ago, Tayyaba and Lynette have been generous mentors, wise sounding boards, and just great people to hang out with. It will be hard to see them go.
These transitions highlight that what often sustains organisations and communities is the relational labour many women carry, not only in paid roles, but in governance, homes, friendships, and all the spaces in between. At the same time, we are fortunate to welcome fabulous new people into the Belong Aotearoa whānau, bringing their own experiences and perspectives to our shared mahi (welcome, Saajida, Fezeela, and Michelle!).
Belong Aotearoa dress in pink to stand up against bullying for Pink Shirt Day
Perhaps this is one of the (many) reasons why I find the repeated political calls for migrants and new citizens to uphold “Kiwi values”, or that immigration is to blame for our societal woes, so disturbing. The subtext is one that reduces people to categories of threat and, as Ganesh Ahirao states, is right out of the divide and rule playbook. Indeed, if anything strengthens social cohesion, it is the work done by so many, across difference and in all our diversity, to hold together whānau, neighbourhoods, and institutions throughout the motu. You can see it in the ongoing work of mana wāhine advocates making visible the racist and misogynist treatment of Māori women; in the fight for pay equity for women whose labour has long been undervalued; and in the extraordinary work of our twelve Safari multicultural leaders, who support migrant- and refugee-background women to find connection and belonging in Aotearoa. As Janet Kamau writes in her powerful reflection on belonging and social cohesion, this is a country where many of us are quietly carrying something, and many of us are also quietly extending something, where belonging is made through these everyday acts of mutual recognition and care, often held and carried in ways that are both ordinary and profound, across time, place, and one another.
That certainly feels like the kind of social cohesion worth celebrating.
Mauri ora,
Angela Wilton
Chief Executive Officer, Belong Aotearoa
In Case You Missed It
Hot Desk in Tāmaki Makaurau (Belong Aotearoa)
Craving a change of scene and some human connection with people who are making a difference in Aotearoa?
Belong Aotearoa’s Mount Albert hotdesks are just what you need!For only $26/day + GST, enjoy a comfortable workspace with access to meeting rooms, a boardroom, commercial printer/scanner, and kitchen facilities.Interested?
Click here.
“They can never touch your soul” - Race Unity Speech Awards 2026 winner, Amanjot Singh (Race Unity)
Hastings Boys High School head boy, Amanjot Singh, won three awards at the 2026 Race Unity Speech Awards and was named the national champion.
His moving speech was inspired by the racism he experienced and the journey of self-discovery he undertook afterwards.“I stand here… unmoved, unfazed, unbroken, wearing proudly both my past and my pride”.
Watch his award-winning speech The Courtroom of Life here.
Findings from Immigration New Zealand’s Refugee Survey 2025 (MBIE)
New research has provided insight into how former refugees have been settling in New Zealand and how their experiences could help shape future services.
The survey, carried out last year, focused on three key areas of settlement: education and English language learning, employment, and participation in New Zealand life.It provided important insight into refugees’ own experiences, information that had not been available through existing data sources.
Read the report of the findings here.
Petition opposing the changes proposed in the new Immigration Bill, Enhanced Risk Management (Asylum Seekers Support Trust)
The Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill proposes amendments to the Immigration Act related to: deportation liability, appeal rights and proceedings.
The Asylum Seekers Support Trust has an open petition to oppose the changes proposed in the bill stating “the changes proposed erode Aotearoa’s longstanding commitment to fundamental human rights and humanitarian principles”.
The petition can be read and signed here.
Events
Job Interview Prep (Migrant Action Trust)
This session will cover tips on how to present yourself with confidence during interviews and common interview questions, cultural norms and how to talk about your skills the kiwi way.
When: Wednesday 27 May, from 10.30am to 1pm.
Where: Wesley Community Centre.
Register for this free workshop here.
Personal Branding and Networking (Migrant Action Trust)
Attendees will gain an understanding on how to build a personal brand that resonates with local employers and learn practical networking strategies to connect with professionals and opportunities in Aotearoa.
When: Wednesday 3 June, from 11.30am to 1pm.
Where: Mount Roskill War Memorial Hall.
Register for this free workshop here.
Starting a Business in NZ (Citizens Advice Bureau)
Learn the basics of starting a small business in Aotearoa. This session will cover business ideas, business planning, structure, registrations, compliance, budgeting and common mistakes to avoid.
When: Friday 29 May, from 10.30am to 11.30am.
Where: Howick Local Board Room, Pakuranga Library Building.
Register: settlement.pakuranga@cab.org.nz
Turn Up! (Mixit NZ)
Youth 13-20 years can join this programme to learn new dance styles, choreography and gain confidence. They will be joined by three guest artists who are sharing their dance styles.
When: Every Saturday till 4July.
Where: Auckland Academy of Dance.
Register: 021 255 7937.
Belonging Online: Sharing Experiences of Online Harm in Aotearoa (Tāhono Trust)
Join a series of safe, online conversations for community to share experiences of online harm and how the lacking regulation of online platforms has impacted the sense of belonging of ourselves and those around us in Aotearoa.
When: Wednesday 10 June and Saturday 13 June.
Where: Online
Register for this kōrero here.
Media
New test covering 'responsibilities and privileges' of NZ citizenship announced for migrants (RNZ)
Migrants applying for citizenship in New Zealand will have to pass a new multi-choice test under a government initiative to kick in late next year.
Read more here.
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown refers to RNZ staffer as 'a Muslim terrorist' (RNZ)
Mayor Wayne Brown referred to an RNZ staff member of Indian descent as "a Muslim terrorist" and commented on his beard as the man escorted him into the building for an interview.
Read more here.
Harnessing the economic potential of migrant women through better skills recognition (Australian Multicultural Women’s Alliance (AMWA)
A report by the Australian Multicultural Women’s Alliance states that only 41% of migrant women surveyed in Australia are working in roles aligned with their qualifications, and they earn 31% less than Australian-born women with similar qualifications.
Read more here.
Unions warn India-NZ FTA could lead to migrant exploitation (RNZ)
Unions are warning immigration provisions in the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement could lead to the exploitation of migrant workers.
Read more here.
Seymour bemoans critics reducing immigration debate to 'soap opera' politics (RNZ)
David Seymour says ACT's immigration policy is a long-held approach aimed at tackling real challenges, and those claiming he's competing with New Zealand First should be more constructive.Prominent critics of his immigration policy include opposition parties, an immigration lawyer, a sociologist - and his coalition partner.
Read more here.
Do you have news you would like to share in our fortnightly Sector Update? Simply email your update to: sectorupdates@belong.org.nz.
Ngā mihi,
Belong Aotearoa Team