Belong Aotearoa Sector Update 4 December 2025
Kia ora e te whānau,
'Tis the season to gather. Recent hui and conferences have provided wonderful opportunities to learn and, equally important, to unlearn. As a Pākehā woman in leadership, I know I must constantly reflect on how I've been socialised to ‘invisibilise’ privilege and bias. Many in our migrant and refugee-background communities also carry internalised narratives of oppression, shaped by marginalisation or survival pressures.
Unlearning is ongoing, sometimes uncomfortable, but necessary.
At a recent Connect & Thrive event (photo above) led by Dr Hend Zaki, in my group, diverse women discussed 'imposter syndrome', the learned self-doubt many carry. We explored flipping the narrative: the real issue isn't our programmed self-doubt, but the 'dominance syndrome' of those programmed to believe their voices matter most.
This spirit continued at Refugee Alliance hui in Wellington and Auckland, where we explored establishing a national refugee voice body and advocated for better family reunification and more equitable access to services. What stood out was the need for decision-makers to unlearn assumptions and listen to lived expertise. Meanwhile, watching Aotearoa representatives speak truth at the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva reminded me why this work matters, especially when democratic voices seem increasingly sidelined in Aotearoa.
As the year closes, I hope you find space to rest and reflect. May this season give us room to breathe, honour the work of learning and unlearning, and carry hope forward.
Ngā mihi,
Angela Wilton
Chief Executive Officer, Belong Aotearoa
In this issue:
In Case You Missed It
Job Opportunity: Migrant Conservation Programme Volunteer (Conservation Volunteers New Zealand)
Join Conservation Volunteers New Zealand's programme connecting new migrants with Aucklanders through environmental work in Auckland's Puketāpapa, Albert-Eden and Whau regions.
No experience needed – help with weeding, planting, litter clean-ups and nursery work while learning from a bilingual team leader (English/Mandarin).
FREE sessions to meet people, gain skills, improve wellbeing and protect local nature.
Find sessions and book here.
Auckland Council launches essential guide to new life in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Council)
Auckland Council has launched a new Welcome to Auckland web portal, a helpful and essential guide for anyone making Tāmaki Makaurau their new home.
The portal aims to ease the transition for new residents by acting as a central hub for information, community services, and civic participation, ensuring newcomers feel a sense of belonging from day one.
For more information, visit: Welcome to Auckland - a Practical Guide for Newcomers - OurAuckland.
Research Launch: Migrant Construction Worker Exploitation in Aotearoa (Migrant Action Trust)
A new report released on 15 November exposes the NZ Government's complicity in systemic exploitation of migrant construction workers, practices likened to modern slavery and human trafficking.
Research reveals governments have designed and profited from a system that exploits vulnerable workers.
Urgent policy recommendations include: decoupling visas from employers; an independent migrant labour regulator; pathways to permanent residence; and guaranteed access to healthcare, tenancy, and legal aid.
Read the full report here.
Human Rights Commission CERD Shadow Report (Human Rights Commission)
Three Māori-led organisations submitted shadow reports to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination detailing what they describe as an unprecedented attack on Māori rights, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and racial equity in Aotearoa.
Reports document the Government's deliberate dismantling of Māori rights protections through legislative and policy reforms that breach New Zealand's obligations under international conventions.
NZ's review at CERD (Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination) concluded on 5 December, with civil society submitters presenting evidence of state-driven racism while the government portrayed a positive picture.
Read more here.
Events
Theatre Event: Genuine and Stable - First Ever Korean-Kiwi Playwright (Proudly Asian Theatre)
World premiere play by Korean-Kiwi writer and former immigration lawyer Uhyoung Choi explores the emotional realities of proving relationships "genuine and stable" for partnership visas.
The story follows two immigration officers assessing a couple's relationship, revealing intimate challenges migrants face when love is put under scrutiny.
When: 9 to 14 December.
Where: Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre.
Tickets: $20-$38 (group discounts available).
Book here.
Media
Paeroa Employer Fined for Exploiting Migrant Workers (NZ Herald)
Company fined $159,250 plus $18,684 reparation and $5,000 emotional harm payments to each victim for exploiting migrant workers through unpaid wages totaling over $158,000.
Employer submitted false records to Immigration NZ, including fabricated rosters and payslips, and completed employment modules on behalf of workers, denying them the chance to learn their rights.
Read more here.
Councillor Highlights Gender and Race-Based Abuse in Local Government (RNZ)
Auckland councillor Julie Fairey speaks out after receiving cruel comments following a cycling accident.
Women councillors, particularly women of colour, regularly face more abuse than their male counterparts.
Read more here.
Trump Administration to Reinterview Biden-Era Refugees (RNZ)
Trump administration moves to reinterview refugees who were admitted to the US under the Biden administration.
Policy change raises concerns about the security and status of refugees already resettled in the United States.
Read more here.
Transgender Asylum Seekers Forced to Use Deadnames Until Residency (Stuff)
Transgender asylum seekers cannot change their name on official documents until granted residency, a process that often takes several years.
Policy forces individuals to be "outed" and use their deadname throughout the lengthy asylum process.
Read more here.
Transgender Asylum Seeker Trapped in NZ "Limbo" (Stuff)
An asylum seeker is unable to travel overseas to represent a documentary about her life, despite the film being selected for a major Pacific documentary festival.
She came to New Zealand seeking safety but now describes living in anxiety, prevented from leaving the country.
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