Rally supports upping intake of refugees

RESILIENCE: More than 200 people gathered to show their support for refugee resettlement in the city. PHOTO: ALECIA ROUSSEAU

A Palmerston North church will continue to lobby the Government in upping the refugee intake for Palmerston North after their latest application was turned down.

All Saints Church pastor John Hornblow shared this with more than 200 people who had gathered in The Square on Sunday for the You're Welcome Rally.

The large crowd turned out with loud voices and placards to show support for allowing refugees into the city, in clear opposition of Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning Muslims.

Mr Hornblow said he had been involved in the resettlement of refugees for decades and believed his church had the courage and resources to do more.

"The Government has turned down an application from All Saints Church to resettle more refugees ... this is unacceptable," he said.

"We will go on campaigning for the refugee quota to be increased."

He also offered a message of comfort to those refugees in the crowd.

"You are whanau. You will worship here in our city in peace ... I am glad you have come here."

Among those speaking was Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand president Hazim Arafeh.

Mr Arafeh said Muslims began coming to New Zealand because it provided them with better opportunities and prosperity.

He said Muslims had always been nothing but law abiding citizens and made reference to isolated events of bigotry such as the one that occurred in the Waikato over the weekend.

"But I still believe this is an isolated thing and it does not represent the true ethics of New Zealand.

"A high calibre of New Zealanders stood up yesterday and proved that."

Mr Arafeh said Muslims were also concerned about right-wing extremists who follow "the most destructive ideology ever".

"But again after living here for 11 years, I tell you I'm very proud. I couldn't live in a better place."

Palmerston North City councillor Brent Barrett said the event was a local response to the hatred and fear fuelling the Republican administration in the United States.

"Like each one of you ... I'm appalled by the use of hatred and fear to poison progress, and to command power over people. The dangerous gaps between the free and the oppressed, the rich and the desperately poor are deliberately being filled by the powerful sowing fear and hatred, creating a perfect storm of anger.

"And caught in that storm are the vulnerable among us, especially minorities and refugees. This storm threatens human rights including the right to religious freedom."