Belong Aotearoa Sector Update 6 November 2025
Kia ora e te whānau,
Over the past month, I’ve had the privilege of attending and contributing to several meaningful conversations about equity, belonging, and leadership. A highlight was joining a session where Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard spoke to the urgent global challenges we face, from deepening income inequality and entrenched economic injustice, to the escalating climate emergency, and the growing backlash against multiculturalism and racial justice efforts. Against that global backdrop, it is particularly striking that the United States government has announced it will restrict its refugee admissions next year to just 7,500 people, a dramatic drop from 125,000 under the previous administration, and will specifically prioritise white communities. This shift underlines just how politicised refugee and migration systems have become, and reinforces the need for courageous, principled leadership here in Aotearoa.
I also had the honour of being a panellist at the Connected Leadership workshop on Kotahitanga in Action, alongside Maretha Smit, CEO of Te Uru Tāngata / Centre for Workplace Inclusion, and Maikara Ropata, Kaimanaaki at Connected Leadership. Our kōrero explored what inclusive and cohesive leadership truly requires, and I spoke specifically to the importance of ‘unlearning’ in that process, not simply adding new policies or diversity initiatives, but reflecting on and disrupting inherited habits of leadership shaped by settler-colonial histories. I emphasised the importance of recognising our unique context in Aotearoa - Indigenous sovereignty, settler-colonialism, and diverse migrant journeys - and the responsibility leaders (particularly Pākehā ones like me) hold to understand the systems we are part of and lead in ways that honour these histories and communities. Ultimately, this work is grounded not just in strategy, but in ethics: care, relentless self-reflection, and a commitment to deep relationships with people and place.
Photo of panellists/facilitator (Angela Wilton, Sue Watson of Connected Leadership, Maretha Smit of Te Uru Tāngata / Centre for Workplace Inclusion, Maikara Ropata of Connected Leadership) at Connected Leadership Kotahitanga in Action event.
Finally, in the spirit of both action and reflection, we recently met with Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey to continue advocating for culturally responsive, trauma-informed mental health support for Aotearoa’s diverse communities. Migrant and refugee-background whānau face complex barriers in building home, connection, and wellbeing here, and our systems must be equipped to provide support that is culturally grounded, equitable, and responsive to diverse lived realities. This need becomes even more pressing as extreme weather events destabilise communities globally, and here in Aotearoa, as geopolitical tensions and social divisions rise, pressures that compound stress, displacement, and uncertainty shape the mental health and wellbeing landscape for many. We all have a role to play in upholding care for people and planet, and in holding our leaders, across the political spectrum, to account in these challenging times.
Ngā mihi,
Angela Wilton
Chief Executive Officer, Belong Aotearoa
In this issue:
In Case You Missed It
91 new roles to be recognised for Accredited Employer Work Visa (Immigration New Zealand)
Immigration NZ will begin recognising 91 new occupations at skill levels 1 to 3 under the National Occupation List (NOL) in AEWV applications from 3 November 2025.
Read more here.
Events
Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Migrant and Refugee Communities in New Zealand and Chile (AUT)
Six-part webinar series exploring migrant and refugee health through a trans-Pacific lens, examining healthcare systems, social policies, and public health challenges between Chile and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Session Details:
Chile session: Tuesday 11 November, from 7pm to 8pm.
New Zealand session: Wednesday 12 November, from 11am to 12pm
Where: Online via Zoom.
To register, click here.
Beyond the Sidelines: The Power of Sports in Refugee Integration (IRISE Virtual Exchange)
Explore how sports have been used as a pathway for refugee settlement and integration in Australia, Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the United States. A global gathering of organisations and individuals supporting refugees through resettlement and complementary pathways.
When: Thursday 13 November, from 11am to 12.30pm.
Where: Online.
To register, click here.
Wellness Through Art (Citizens’ Advice Bureau)
Free Fun Workshop – all materials provided.
Choose your activity:
Diamond Art with Cat (10 spaces available).
Card Making and Stand-Up Calendars with Debbie (10 spaces available).
When: Friday 21 November, from 10am to 12pm.
Where: Pakuranga Library.
To register, email settlement.pakuranga@cab.org.nz or text: 022 308 9337.
Advancing Equity: Social Determinants in Migrant and Refugee Health Research Symposium (Migrant and Refugee Health Research Centre and New Zealand Policy Research Institute)
Hear from researchers, policymakers and postgraduate students
Learn about grassroots, community-led initiatives improving migrant and refugee health outcomes.
When: Friday 21 November, from 8am to 5pm.
Where: AUT North Campus.
Register here.
White Ribbon Day Fundraiser Dinner (Family Action - Whānau Toa)
Join a special evening of food, inspiring speakers, and community spirit to support women, children, and whānau in West Auckland. All funds raised support women and children impacted by family or sexual violence.
When: Monday 25 November, arrive from 6.30pm for a 7pm start.
Where: La Rosa Restaurant.
Cost: $80 per person (includes three-course meal, raffles and prizes, cash bar available).
To purchase tickets, click here.
Refugee Alliance Hui 2025 (The Refugee Alliance)
Join Alliance members, refugee-led organisations, MPs, and sector partners for a day of advocacy, collaboration, and strategic engagement.
When: Wellington on 25 November, Auckland on 28 November 2025.
Where: TBC (details to be confirmed closer to the date).
To register, click here.
Connect and Thrive: Networking and Speed Mentoring Event (HZ Consulting)
A unique opportunity for women from diverse backgrounds to build meaningful connections, share knowledge, and gain insights from experienced mentors and professionals.
When: Saturday 29 November, from 10.30am to 1.30pm.
Where: Auckland (Location TBC).
To register, click here.
Media
Trump Slashes US Refugee Cap to Historic Low, Prioritising White South Africans (The Guardian)
The Trump administration cuts annual refugee admissions to 7,500, the lowest since the programme began in 1980.
The vast majority of slots are reserved for white Afrikaners from South Africa, with approximately 400 already relocated to the US.
Thousands of pre-vetted refugees from war-torn countries like Afghanistan, Venezuela, Sudan, and Congo are now blocked from entry.
Read more here.
If we want Meritocracy to Succeed, DEI is Essential - paywalled (The Post)
Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Gail Pacheco argues New Zealand's labour market does not treat everyone equally despite national values of fairness.
Economic analysis shows some workers face invisible barriers, including biased assumptions and structural disadvantages.
Pay gaps and workforce under-utilisation persist across ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic background.
Read more here.
Rotorua Te Reo Māori and English Course Supports Migrant Integration (NZ Herald)
Pilot programme combines English language learning with local Māori culture and history in Rotorua.
The course helps build stronger relationships between Māori and migrants while supporting successful settlement.
Read more here.
Minister Gets Tough on Employers Choosing Migrants Over New Zealanders (RNZ)
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford warns employers could lose accreditation to hire migrants if they don't genuinely try to recruit unemployed New Zealanders first.
Read the full story here.
Natural Increase in New Zealand's Population Now Exceeds Gain from Migration (interest.co.nz)
Natural population increase (births minus deaths) reached 21,000 in the year to June 2025, exceeding net migration gain for the first time since 2013 outside pandemic years.
Read the full story 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