Belong Aotearoa Sector Update9 April 2026
Kia ora e te whānau,
If you are a news junkie like me, you might find it hard to put your phone (or TV remote, laptop, newspaper) down and truly switch off. I tend to start my day with the headlines and usually end it the same way. For many of us with connections abroad, through family, lived experience, or simply a recognition of how interconnected our world is, it is hard not to engage. And lately, there has been a lot to absorb: the devastation unfolding in the Middle East, conflict raging elsewhere often out of sight of mainstream media, economic uncertainty, the threat of fuel and food crises, and the broader instability driven by a handful of powerful leaders whose actions inflict immense harm with seeming impunity. It hasn’t been easy to stay positive.
When I start to get despondent, I come back to this thought: the current moment isn’t the whole story. This recent article puts it well: what we’re seeing now is a backlash to decades of progress, not the overall direction of travel. The belief in rights, dignity, and justice runs deeper than any one political moment, and the big picture is far more encouraging.
And then I read this piece about how people in Aotearoa still thank their bus drivers. When I arrived here from Canada as a student in the 1990s, that act of gratitude really stood out to me. I still love that we thank our bus drivers - that we recognise the everyday mahi of others (even if Auckland might need to lift its game a little).
At Belong Aotearoa, we hold on to that same sense of where things are heading. We see it in the work - spending time with the Auckland Resettlement Group (pictured below), connecting through the West Auckland Ethnic Leaders Network, coming together for Race Relations Day, and hosting Leataata Samoan Preschool whānau at our Safari Eid celebrations.
This is the really hopeful stuff - the everyday work that shows the direction in which we are heading. The strongman politics swirling around us is just a moment in time, not the flow of the future.
Mauri ora,
Angela Wilton
Chief Executive Officer, Belong Aotearoa
In this issue:
In Case You Missed It
Calling Strategic Partners: Help Shape the Future of Safari Multicultural Playgroups!
Belong Aotearoa is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from experienced individuals or agencies to partner with us on the evolution of our Safari Multicultural Playgroups & Wraparound Programmes.
Proven experience in strategic planning, business case development, financial modelling and experience in the social or community sector is ideal.
EOIs are due by Friday 24 April 2026.
Interested? Click here to learn more.
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.
Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill (NZ Parliament)
The Bill proposes amendments to the Immigration Act aimed at increasing the effectiveness of immigration compliance and enforcement, improving the integrity of the refugee and protection system, and strengthening non-citizens' rights.
It includes 15 amendments covering areas such as expanded deportation liability, tighter asylum claim rules, and better information-sharing between agencies.
The closing date for submissions is 11.59pm on Wednesday 29 April.
Have your say here.
Events
Knowledge Sharing Session on Student Wellbeing at School: How Parents Can Support Children's Emotional Stability? (Pearl of the Islands Foundation)
You are warmly invited to attend an engaging and informative session focused on supporting children through their school journey. This session will be facilitated by Prof. Salih Yucel, Professor & Researcher at Charles Sturt University.
When: Monday 13 April, from 6.30pm to 8pm.
Where: Welsey Community Centre.
Register here.
Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill: Discussion and Submission Planning (Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies)
This session will provide a brief overview of the bill, then move into a discussion on preparing written submissions, including the possibility of a joint submission if there is interest and sufficient alignment in positions.
When: Tuesday 14 April, from 7pm to 8pm.
Where: Online via Zoom.
Register here.
Wesley Mini Eco Festival (Puketapapa Eco Festival)
This event includes Free Workshops, Bike Safety checks, Free Clothing Repairs, E-bike Trials, Free Facepainting and more.
When: Saturday 18 April, from 11am to 2pm.
Where: Wesley Community Centre.
FREE Workshop: Developing a Strategic Framework for Working with Communities (ANCAD LiiFT Aotearoa)
Using design thinking, appreciative inquiry and Transition Towns models, this session will help you develop a strategic approach to your work.
When: Wednesday 22 April, from 12.45pm to 2.45pm.
Where: Welsey Community Centre.
Register here.
Your First Job: Know Your Rights (Glen Eden Library)
This interactive workshop is designed for people entering the workforce. It will cover the practical employment law basics every new worker in New Zealand should know before signing a contract or starting work.
When: Tuesday 28 April, from 10.30am to 12pm.
Where: Glen Eden Library.
Register here.
The Golden Circle Project (Allyship Projects Trust)
A community well-being initiative designed and dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for seniors from all walks of life, fostering connection, and reducing social isolation.
When: April – December | Weekly on Tuesdays from 10am to 12pm and Thursdays from 2pm to 4pm.
Where: Allyship Community HUB.
Register at join@allyship.nz.
Media
New Zealand Relies Increasingly on Migrants to Pay our Tax: Is That a Problem? (RNZ)
A new Treasury paper reveals that overseas-born people now make up 32% of New Zealand's population but contribute 38% of individual income tax, raising concerns from economists that over-reliance on migration to sustain the country's tax base creates economic vulnerability and that long-term productivity growth is the more resilient solution.
Read more here.
ASST Responds To Minister Of Immigration’s Announcement Of New Legislation ‘Cracking Down’ On Asylum System (Scoop)
The Asylum Seekers Support Trust has rejected the Immigration Minister's characterisation of New Zealand's asylum system as a "soft touch," calling the proposed crackdown legislation an unfair response that undermines the rights of vulnerable people.
Read more here.
A Display of Unity at a Māori-Sikh Hui in Auckland (RNZ)
Māori and Sikh community leaders gathered in South Auckland to reaffirm their shared values of unity and inclusivity, following recent disruptions to Sikh religious parades.
Read more here.
Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk tells Migrant Couple’s Disabled Son to Leave New Zealand (NZ Herald)
The six-year-old son of a South African couple living in Waikato has been told to leave the country by Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk, who has declined to give the family a reason.
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