Changes to Refugee Settlement Service Providers and Service Provision | Immigration New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) contracts 13 community-based providers to deliver settlement support services to quota refugees following their arrival in settlement locations around the country.
A recent media release announced three new refugee settlement location providers for Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch and contract renewal for Ashburton and Timaru providers to provide settlement services to refugees from 1 July 2022. They have improved their service provision to provide more consistency and continuity of support for refugees arriving in New Zealand; and enable providers to have more opportunities to offer robust wrap-around support to refugees.
The following are the changes to the scope of the services:
- The timeframe for settlement services to arriving refugee families will increase from 12 months to up to 24 months of their settlement in the community.
- Support will also be extended to families and their sponsors who have been approved to come to New Zealand under the Refugee Family Support Category visa. This support will include accommodation and settlement planning guidance for sponsors once their applicant family has been selected under the category and support for both groups in the early phase of settlement into Aotearoa.
Contract negotiations are underway for the remaining settlement service providers in Palmerston North, Levin, Masterton, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim.
