Belong Aotearoa Sector Update 26 February 2026
Kia ora e te whānau,
Yesterday I wrote on LinkedIn about the frustrations I have felt about how often we respond to the visible consequences of harm but stop short of addressing the root causes.
Across Aotearoa, we can see this pattern playing out in all sorts of ways: debates about racism in Parliament; the scaling back of diversity, equity and inclusion measures in the Public Service Amendment Bill; the increased powers for immigration officers to question suspected overstayers; the use of move-along orders in response to homelessness.
In each case, we find ourselves reacting to what is visible (the headline, the incident, the individual) rather than confronting the deeper systems and policy settings that produce inequity in the first place.
Racism, visa precarity and housing insecurity do not appear out of nowhere. They are shaped by institutional cultures, political choices and long-standing structural conditions. If we focus only on managing the symptoms, we leave those foundations intact.
What is exciting, however, is that communities themselves consistently work to push against exclusion and reshape social norms.
Kirsty Fong and Michelle Mascoll, Ethnic Rainbow Alliance
Whether it’s Lunar New Year celebrations across the motu, gatherings during Ramadan, celebrating with our ethnic rainbow partners at Big Gay Out, or the daily work happening inside places like Leataata O Tupulaga Aoga Amata, a Samoan-language preschool working with children and communities in West Auckland, belonging is being built at its roots, through culture, language, leadership, care, and embracing diversity. Across our networks, we see migrant and refugee-background communities actively creating the conditions for belonging, not waiting for permission.
A colleague said recently that our communities define for themselves what belonging means. That reflection highlights that meaningful change happens when we reshape conditions, not just responses. If we are serious about belonging in Aotearoa, our collective mahi cannot stop at responding to visible challenges. We need leadership, vision, and systems-thinking to shift the structures that produce exclusion in the first place. That is slower, more complex work but it is where real change happens.
Ayo, Elena, Javeed, Angela – back row; Lynette, Cynthia, Tayyaba front row; Dr Anmar – absent
Finally, I am excited as Belong Aotearoa enters a new chapter. At our first Board meeting of the year, we confirmed Cynthia Tieu and Javeed Ali as our new Co-Chairs, taking over from the thoughtful and principled leadership of Tayyaba Khan. We are deeply grateful to Tayyaba for her years of commitment to our mahi and the strong legacy she leaves.
Our Board reflects the diversity of the communities we work alongside, and we know that inclusive, representative governance matters. As two long-standing Board members conclude their terms, we are seeking new members with expertise in finance, governance, and non-profit leadership to help guide our next phase. If you are interested, please consider applying here.
Mauri ora,
Angela Wilton
Chief Executive Officer, Belong Aotearoa
In Case You Missed It
Hot Desk in Tāmaki Makaurau (Belong Aotearoa)
Tired of melting in your home office during the summer heat or being squished at the dining table? Craving a change of scene and some human connection with like-minded folks? Belong Aotearoa’s Mount Albert hotdesks are just what you need!
For only $26/day + GST, enjoy a comfortable workspace with aircon that keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter, plus access to meeting rooms, a boardroom, commercial printer/scanner, and kitchen facilities.
Interested? Email gary@belong.org.nz.
Join Our Board | Shape an Inclusive Aotearoa (Belong Aotearoa)
Belong Aotearoa is seeking new Board members to join us in driving transformational change for refugee-background and migrant communities.
We're looking for experienced governance professionals with expertise in finance, fundraising, or non-profit leadership who are passionate about inclusion and social justice.
Applications close 13 March 2026
Apply here.
Migrant and Former Refugee Women Entrepreneurship Survey (Girl in Motion)
This research seeks to understand the unique challenges migrant and former refugee women face when starting businesses and identifying how digital tools, AI, and online platforms can help overcome barriers.
Find out more here.
Events
Know your Rights - Understanding Tax in New Zealand (IRD) Workshop (HOST International Aotearoa New Zealand)
Free online workshop to help you understand IRD numbers, paying tax, tax codes and tax rates, Working for Families and Family Boost financial support and Kiwisaver.
When: Thursday 26 February, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
Where: Online
To learn more, click here.
Wills and Enduring Power of Attorney (Auckland Community Law Centre)
This free community session will provide a simple guide on how to make a will and the risks of doing it wrong.
Tea/ biscuits provided.
When: Friday 27 February, from 10.30am to 12 noon.
Where: Pakūranga Library.
To register text on 022 308 9337 or email settlement.pakuranga@cab.org.nz
Breaking Bread NZ Ramadan Iftar Edition (Harmony Hive)
Free community event for all to share Ramadan Iftar.
When: Saturday 28 February, from 6.30pm.
Where: Te Atatu Peninsula Community Centre.
Refugee Youth Workshop on Police Recruitment ( New Zealand Police)
In this workshop, you will learn how to create a strong CV, explore employment pathways, learn about Police recruitment and connect with community leaders and support networks.
When: Tuesday 3 March, from 5pm to 7.30pm.
Where: Te Atatu Peninsula Community Centre.
To join the session, email EthnicAuckland@police.govt.nz.
Free Workshop for Newcomers: The New Zealand Healthcare System (Migrant Action Trust)
This workshop aims to help you understand how the healthcare system works, the different healthcare services and their functions and practical advice on staying healthy.
When: Thursday 4 March, from 10am to 12.30pm.
Where: Mt Eden War Memorial Hall.
Register here.
Health and Safety and the Board’s Role plus Succession Planning (Auckland North Community and Development)
This free community workshop for non-profits and social enterprises explores the board’s leadership role in the organisation with a particular emphasis on building a good team, succession planning and how the board leads a culture of health and safety in the organisation.
When: Wednesday 11 March, from 12.45pm to 2.45pm.
Where: Wesley Community Centre.
To learn more, click here.
Media
'Golden visa' update announced by Immigration Minister (RNZ)
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced that New Zealand's revamped 'golden visa' scheme has attracted 573 applications totalling around $3.39 billion in investment, a dramatic increase from just 116 applications and $70 million under the previous settings.
Read more here.
How this man's dream of living in New Zealand 'crumbled' (Stuff)
A migrant worker says he’d visited Aotearoa before, and dreamed of returning - but meeting an unlicensed immigration adviser was the day his life turned bad.
Read more here.
Turning a Lunar New Year staple into a daily delight (RNZ)
A Taiwanese immigrant family is producing around 300,000 dumplings a week, successfully expanding from Asian supermarkets into mainstream New Zealand grocery chains, with the family hoping dumplings will one day become as universally loved in New Zealand as sushi.
Read more here.
Mother Loriza Ali triumphs in 11-year struggle to get a resident visa for her son, who has cerebral palsy (Nz Herald)
After 11 years of declined applications, South Auckland mother Loriza Ali has finally been granted a resident visa for her 20-year-old son Nathan, who has cerebral palsy, after Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk intervened and waived the usual health assessment requirements.
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
