BELONG AOTEAROA AND MIGRANT ACTION TRUST MEDIA RELEASE
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 JUNE 2020
Migrant Matters Hui: Leaving No One Behind
Over the past few weeks of lockdown and in the run up to the national elections, Migrant Matters Hui have been bringing together politicians, not only to hear of the issues our migrant communities are facing but to also share how they are responding to their needs.
On Saturday 6 June, through a partnership with Migrant Action Trust, Living Wage Movement and Belong Aotearoa, the final Migrant Matters online hui of a 3 part series was held. The hui focused on ‘Social cohesion in a post COVID-19 World’ facilitated by Rahul Watson Govindan, Chair of Belong Aotearoa and Fala Haulangi, from Migrant Action Trust and Living Wage Movement.
MPs from the various political parties were asked to share their insights on what does social cohesion look like in a post COVID world, equitable access to employment for migrants and former refugees post COVID-19 and rebuilding the economy post COVID-19 and the role of migrants in reviving the NZ economy.
The speakers included Labour MP Michael Wood; Sue Bradford, Community Educator and Activist and former Green MP; and Green Party MP & Co-Leader Marama Davidson.
The hui brought together the diverse community of Auckland, all interested in how can we use the confidence of unity against COVID-19, to strengthen social cohesion, create transformational change that is supported by policy and address the immediate and ongoing needs of our migrant communities that have been exasperated by COVID-19.
Gagan Deep, a former international student, shared his story as a migrant made redundant during COVID-19 and the struggles he’s had to face to find support and new employment - setting the scene of the issues our migrant communities are facing and the humanity behind the numbers.
Speaking about welfare and if migrants could access benefits, Bradford pointed out that in a pandemic, there is specific legislation in the social security act which allows the government to immediately open access to welfare to the same income support system that New Zealanders are entitled to that could be opened immediately.
“What is stopping the government from activating Section 64 to provide emergency benefits for migrants during a pandemic? Food parcels aren’t cutting it,” one of the hui attendees commented.
“If we are all in this together, no one should be left behind. Not only have migrants played a huge role in our response to COVID-19 holding many essential roles, they are and have played a huge part in boosting our economy. However, as governments face the economic repercussions of this pandemic, migrants are left to fend for themselves with little acknowledgement of their contribution and nothing in place to support the consequences of a flawed system that treats them unfairly and disadvantages them,” the hui organisers noted.
Camille Nakhid, Chair of Migrant Action Trust, closed the hui with a challenge to NZ politicians this election year,
“We don’t want to hear that migrants will be treated the same. We want to be treated better. This pandemic has exposed a flawed system where groups of people such as migrants and former refugees are most vulnerable. The world has looked to New Zealand as the shining example of uniting against the coronavirus. The government must do better in paving the way for a just, fair and equitable society.”
-ENDS-
Media contacts:
Migrant Action Trust
Camille Nakhid
Chair
0220453260
Belong Aotearoa
Malu Malo-Fuiava
Marcomms and Fundraising Manager