Congratulations to Rochana Sheward, Belong Aotearoa Chief Executive for being appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honour 2022.
Migrant groups are urgently calling on the Government to include Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers
The government announced a one-off pathway to residency for several temporary work visas however are excluding a large group of migrants. Migrant groups are urgently calling on the Government to include Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers in the new immigration policy, before it is released. RSEs contribute significantly to Aotearoa’s economy and wellbeing through the work that they have been employed to do.
“I felt more connected”: One migrant’s journey with Te Reo Māori
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15 September 2020
“I felt more connected”: One migrant’s journey with Te Reo Māori
For Glenna Casalme, originally from the Philippines, there is something about Te Reo Māori that pulls energy from the ground and puts it directly into her heart.
After arriving in New Zealand in 2008, Glenna felt disconnected and like a floating spirit until Te Reo Māori opened up a different world before her – te ao Māori, the Māori world.
“If you’re a migrant like me, you know what that’s like – to be disconnected from your home – to have no footing, no tūrangawaewae,” Ms Casalme said.
“Te Reo Māori became my link to New Zealand – ko tōku hononga ki te whenua. The more I studied, the deeper my roots grew.”
Glenna’s Reo journey began in 2009 when she was directing a story for the TV programme Asia Downunder about a Japanese doctorate student learning kapa haka.
“The class was practising the waiata Ki Kō, Ki Kō, and I was instantly taken by Te Reo Māori,” she said.
As soon as she gained residence status, she began to formally attend classes.
“Despite life being busy, I always managed to get a bit of Reo into my life – through work, the TV, or night classes. A different side of me started to emerge. I gained more confidence as a New Zealander. I felt more connected,” she said.
For Glenna, a current tauira (student) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Te Reo Māori is a taonga – a treasure that has been loaned to her.
“I do not own it. It was not my ancestors who spoke it. So I carry this privilege carefully, with much aroha. If you are fortunate enough to learn it, treat it with respect, and it will keep giving back,” she said.
“For me, Te Reo is the beginning – the first step in a genuine relationship with the land and its people, and I cannot wait to see where it takes me. Never have I felt more like I belong in Aotearoa,” she said.
Glenna Casalme shared her personal journey with Te Reo Māori as part of the Shaping our futures together – Kia Hono hui co-hosted by Belong Aotearoa and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa this week.
The hui celebrated and encouraged use of Te Reo Māori across newcomer communities, people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, to support a strong sense of belonging.
According to Rahul Watson Govindan, Chair of Belong Aotearoa, every one of us can contribute to the revitalisation of the language and it will nourish every one of us in return.
“Through Te Reo Māori we can build relationships and strengthen solidarity between tangata whenua and tangata tiriti – and create communities where people have a true sense of belonging,” he said.
“I hope the hui inspired people from diverse backgrounds to start their Te Reo Māori journey or progress their journey even further,” Mr Watson Govindan said.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Executive Director, Marketing & Tauira Services, Hone Paul says supporting Belong Aotearoa is proving to be an inspiration.
“The stories we hear from people who are finding Te Reo Māori helps them settle into life in Aotearoa while also honouring their own whakapapa are heartwarming. We value the diversity they bring and while they learn from us, we also learn from them. Together we are moving forward together into a brighter future.”
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Belong Aotearoa is a non-profit innovation and social change hub working to address systemic barriers to positive settlement and inclusion so newcomer migrants and former refugees can contribute to NZ’s collective wellbeing and prosperity & feel a true sense of belonging.
The ‘Shaping our futures together - Kia Hono’ hui are a partnership between Belong Aotearoa and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to strengthen relationships, allyship and cross-cultural collaboration between tangata whenua and migrant and refugee background communities.
Media contact:
Malu Malo-Fuiava
Marcomms and Fundraising Manager
09-625 2440 extn. 4
You don’t have to be a voice for the voiceless. Just pass the mic.
Diverse communities & voices urged to have their say on council Emergency Budget
Migrant Matters Hui: Leaving No One Behind
Experts urge migrants to be proactive & vocal following new immigration laws
Collective call for New Zealand government to do more for refugees globally
Belong Aotearoa alongside leading organisations working in the resettlement (refugee background) sector is calling on the New Zealand Government to play a greater role in responding to the international refugee crisis, ahead of the Global Refugee Forum (Geneva, December 17 – 18, 2019).
The open letter signed by members of civil society, former refugee leaders, resettlement, humanitarian and faith-based organisations calls on the Government to commit to three pledges that will advance the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees which New Zealand is signed to. The three pledges are:
Strengthen former refugee leadership, including youth leadership and capacity, in policy-making;
Establish the Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship category as a permanent and additional pathway in New Zealand’s broader refugee and humanitarian programme;
Increase the number of places available per year under the Refugee Family Support Category.
Rochana Sheward, CEO, Belong Aotearoa, said: “Aotearoa New Zealand has a long history of providing a safe home for people seeking refuge from conflict, disaster, persecution, violence and violations of human rights. We may be a small nation, but we have the capacity to have an even greater impact on the international refugee crisis.”
“The Global Refugee Forum is an opportunity to pledge to do more and at the same time enhance the resettlement, integration and inclusion of former refugees in Aotearoa New Zealand,” she said.
“The three pledges will help build an inclusive Aotearoa where resettled communities have positive resettlement experiences, feel welcomed, connected, valued and respected in their new home and have opportunities to participate and contribute meaningfully.
“People from refugee backgrounds bring incredible strengths, knowledge, skills & resilience to this country and their contributions to communities all over Aotearoa New Zealand need to be acknowledged and valued,” Mrs Sheward said.
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Belong Aotearoa (formerly known as Auckland Regional Migrant Services) focuses on enhancing successful settlement, integration and inclusion for newcomers (both migrant and refugee background) through addressing the systemic barriers such as social isolation, underemployment and racism and discrimination.
Belong Aotearoa is a member of the Auckland Resettlement Sector Steering Group (ARSSG) which brings together representatives of key agencies in the Auckland resettlement sector to enhance interagency collaboration, strengthen the collective voice of resettled (refugee-background) communities and advocate for improved support and services.
Media contact:
Malu Malo-Fuiava
Marcomms and Fundraising Manager
09-625 2440 extn. 904
Shaping our Futures Together Hui – Strengthening cross-cultural relationships
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
28 August 2019
Building connected and inclusive communities based on solidarity between tangata whenua and ethnic communities is the focus of the Shaping our Futures Together Hui, September 6, co-hosted by Belong Aotearoa and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
The hui will include keynote speaker, the recently appointed Race Relations Commissioner Mr Meng Foon, plus other speakers highlighting opportunities to strengthen allyship, based on respect, shared and different experiences of injustice and intertwined futures.
Board Chair of Belong Aotearoa, formerly Auckland Regional Migrant Services, Rahul Watson Govindan sees the hui as a platform to inspire cross-cultural mahi.
“Working together we can build a caring and inclusive Aotearoa where many cultures are woven together in a celebration of diversity, connectedness and belonging. When our mahi is underpinned by Te Tiriti, we can strengthen inclusion,” Mr Watson Govindan said.
“In our work, we are seeing a huge appetite for positive change through collaboration. Through this hui we’re excited to be able to share some great examples of partnerships between Māori and ethnic communities that are strengthening inclusion, equity and the wellbeing of communities,” he said.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Aukaha Tauira Experience Shanan Halbert has seen first-hand how diverse communities thrive in a learning environment that is guided by Māori principles and values. He is excited to see how this hui opens up opportunities for these principles and values to lead the way to connection and inclusion in other spaces.
“This hui will be a great opportunity to showcase biculturalism as a pathway to multiculturalism that is led by Māori principles and values. It highlights the very real implications of diversity with a way forward, that respects tangata whenua and non-Māori, saying that yes, together we can shape our future,” Mr Halbert said.
Hui details:
Title: Shaping our Futures Together Hui
Date: Friday 6 September, 2019
Time: 9.15am – 12.30pm (followed by lunch)
Location: Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, 15 Canning Drive, Mangere
RSVP: By 30 Aug 2019 to: communications@belong.org.nz
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Media contact:
Malu Malo-Fuiava
Marcomms and Fundraising Manager
09-625 2440 extn. 4
About Belong Aotearoa (Formerly known as Auckland Regional Migrant Services Trust - ARMS)
Vision: An inclusive, connected New Zealand where newcomer communities are able to enjoy and contribute towards our collective wellbeing and prosperity.
Mission: Driving innovation to improve newcomer settlement and integration.
We are a specialist settlement support agency, providing targeted initiatives for newcomers (migrants and refugees) across Auckland.
To find out more about Belong Aotearoa visit www.belong.org.nz
About Te Wānanga O Aotearoa
Vision: He takapau mātauranga, he whanau huarewa (Whānau transformation through education)
Mission: Kia angitu te tauira (Tauira Success)
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is one of New Zealand's largest tertiary education providers offering a comprehensive range of certificate to degree level qualifications to New Zealanders of all ages and walks of life. Guided by Māori principles and values, to create a nurturing and inclusive learning environment, with the depth and diversity of courses
To find out more about TWOA visit https://www.twoa.ac.nz
Refugee Sector shows solidarity in the face of Christchurch Mosque shootings
Press Release
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15 2019
In the month that celebrates our multicultural nation with Race Relations and Neighbours day, today March 15th is a day of tragedy for the Muslim community and all New Zealand.
Several refugee support organisations have responded to the shootings by offering their support and sharing heartfelt thoughts to the Muslim community in Christchurch. The organisations working closely with refugee communities, of which several are Muslim, are shocked and appalled by today’s events.
Board Chair of Belong Aotearoa (Formerly known as Auckland Regional Migrant Services), Rahul Watson Govindan has this to say:
“The events unfolding in Christchurch are a very direct attack on our shared values and humanity. We are all united in support of the victims of this shocking crime, and offer our support and aroha to those affected.”
Dr Ann Hood, Chief Executive of Refugees As Survivors NZ (RASNZ) states:
“This shocking action is not representative of NZ attitudes towards our fellow country people and people around the world who follow Islam. We join with New Zealanders everywhere to express our horror at this atrocity committed in our country. We will do all we can to support those impacted by this tragic event”.
Abann Yor, General Manager of ARCC (Aotearoa Resettled Community Coalition) states:
“From the community voice, what’s happening in Christchurch is not really reflective of New Zealand’s shared values. New Zealand is a safe haven for many humanitarian backgrounds. This shooting is not something we can tolerate and we will be standing with those who’ve been affected by it. We know that diversity is our strength as a nation, regardless of our background. Islam is a religion of peace and love and our hearts will be with the Muslim community in New Zealand”.
Refugee support organisations are standing unified and in solidarity to support all those affected now and in the days and weeks to come.
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Media contact:
Malu Malo-Fuiava
Marcomms and Fundraising Manager
09-625 2440 extn. 4
Mackenzie Koppel
Fundraising & Communications Manager
021 838 320