Sector Update - 6 March 2025

Kia ora koutou,

Ramadan Mubarak to all those in our sector observing this sacred month.

Last week our Community Engagement Advisor, Nadir, presented before the Justice Select Committee in partnership with Host International as part of the Refugee Alliance in opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill. Nadir stressed that the government's disregard for any agreements could not only erode trust but also lead to instability, exclusion, and discrimination. It's heartening to see our collective voice making its way into policy conversations that can drive real systems change. We were pleased that so many organisations across the sector submitted their opposition to the bill.

Our Kahika employment mentoring project continues to build opportunities for our newcomer communities, with the women's cohort mentoring nearing completion. What makes Kahika special is how it weaves businesses into the fabric of the programme, helping bridge the networking gap that many in our communities face. Beyond the one-to-one mentoring relationships, we've seen professionals volunteer their time to conduct mock interviews - an invaluable opportunity for participants to navigate the nuances of Aotearoa's recruitment processes. These sessions not only build confidence for our community members but also give businesses a glimpse into the skills and experiences our communities bring, alongside a deeper understanding of the barriers they face.

This week, members of the team and I are in Ōtautahi for the Intersectionality and Systems Change Hui Mutunga, joining other organisations working at the intersection of systems change and intersectionality. Guided by the theme whakatauki "ka mua, ka muri" - walking backward into the future - we'll be sharing learnings, building momentum, and exploring how evaluation can strengthen our collective impact. Belong will be speaking about integrating intersectional systems change thinking across organisational strategy and implementation - something I'm particularly excited to share with our peers.

As the world shifts around us, many of us are processing the recent tensions on the global stage and trying to determine what they may mean for us in Aotearoa and for those of us with families around the world. These challenging global moments remind us of how interconnected our communities truly are. While the global order appears increasingly uncertain, during such times, our focus remains on fostering wellbeing for those around us, drawing strength from our connections, and continuing to advocate for a more just and inclusive world.

Ngā mihi,

 Angela Wilton
CEO

Belong Aotearoa 

MEDIA
Treaty Principles Bill (The Spinoff, February and March)

  • The Spinoff covers and summarises the now complete Treaty Principles Bill Hearings.

Concerns immigration policies eroding RSE workers' rights - unions (RNZ, 4 March 2025)

  • Unions are concerned the coalition Government's new immigration policies are eroding migrant workers' rights.

Wellington Indians celebrate century milestone (RNZ, 28 February)

  • As Kiwi Indians are marking a century of settlement in Wellington, this article celebrates different stories from the Kiwi Indian community.

Immigration New Zealand admits it lacks accurate data on child overstayers (RNZ, 25 February)

  • Immigration New Zealand says the accuracy of its data on visa overstayers is limited due to several factors, including inconsistencies between border movements and visa validity, historical data entry issues, and missing or inaccurate records of border movements.

Immigration NZ announces one-time increase in parent visa quota (RNZ, 25 February)

  • Immigration New Zealand has announced a one-time increase in the parent visa quota, allowing more approved applications to be processed this financial year.

 

EVENTS

Young women Speech Competition (Women's Federation for World Peace)

  • WFWP invites young Women between the ages of 16 and 35 to participate in a speech competition in celebration of International Women’s Day with the theme “Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively, we can all accelerate action.” There are monetary rewards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.

  • Saturday, 8 March, 7pm – 8:45pm

  • Email nzwfwp@gmail.com for more information. 

Free workshop on the New Zealand Health System (Migrant Action Trust and Welcoming Communities)

  • In this free workshop newcomers will learn about the healthcare system structure, where to go for medical help or advice, available services, and wellbeing tips.

  • Tuesday, 11 March, 10:00am - 12:30pm, Mt Albert Library, 84 St Lukes Rd, Auckland.

  • Register here.

Free workshop on understanding and responding to sexual harm (Family Action and Waitakere Ethnic Board)

  • Family Action is offering education sessions to raise awareness and support our communities with the difficult issue of sexual abuse. These sessions can be for families, carers or agencies wanting to know more. 

  • They are offering two sessions, both held at Family Action Office (Kauri Room), 2/197 Universal Drive, Henderson, Auckland. 

    • Saturday, 5 April, 10am-12pm.

    • Thursday, 17 April, 2pm-4pm

  • Email michellec@familyaction.org.nz to RSVP. 


 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Job opportunity (HOST International)

  • HOST International is looking for a part-time Programme Coordinator. It is a fixed term (18 months), part-time (30 hours/week) role based in Wellington.

  • ​Applications close Tuesday 11 March 2025.

  • For more information, and to apply see their website here.

2025 NZSTI Conference - Call for Proposals (New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters)

  • NZSTI invites proposals from Translator and Interpreter practitioners, researchers, academics, organisations, industry experts, and other stakeholders who can contribute valuable perspectives to their 2025 conference. Presenters will receive free conference registration as a thank you for their contribution.

  • The submission deadline is Friday, 14 March 2025. 

  • For more information, and to submit a proposal see here. 

Primary school teachers move to Straight to Residence pathway (Immigration New Zealand)

  • From 26 March 2025, primary teachers will be added to the straight to residence pathway. This change will help to address primary teacher shortages across the country, particularly in Auckland and Northland.

  • For more information, see the Immigration New Zealand website here.

Taxation and the not-for-profit sector consultation (Inland Revenue)

  • Public views are sought on matters relating to the charities and not-for-profit sector. The consultation document considers whether certain tax concessions available to the sector continue to be effective. The Government will consider feedback and decide whether any changes should be made to current rules.

  • Consultation closes on 31 March 2025.

  • See the consultation paper here. 

Submission on the Treaty Principles Bill (Refugee Alliance and Host International)

  • Nadir Shafaq, Belong's Community Engagement Advisor, submitted in opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill in his role as Coordinator of The Refugee Alliance.

Watch his submission here.

China Gonzalez