Jacinda Ardern says NZ benefits from refugee community as new migrants support group launches

Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern was warmly received by speakers at the event. Photo / RNZ, Hamish Cardwell

By Hamish Cardwell, of RNZ

A new group that aims to be a voice for the migrant and refugee community to engage with the Government and other policy makers was launched last night.

The Labour Party leader, local politicians and MPs attended the event in Wellington, joining migrants and refugees from around New Zealand.

They were treated to an Ethiopian coffee ceremony and musical performances.

National Refugee and Migrant Forum of Aotearoa spokesperson Afnan AL-Rubayee says the March 15, 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks started conversations that need to keep happening.

"Because we realised that actually there are uncomfortable conversations.

"There are people who are struggling, there are people that can't integrate overnight ... there are people that are still finding difficulty with some language barriers and cultural barriers - like our older refugee and migrant background individuals."

Attendee Kalkida Yohannes said many young people in the refugee and migrant communities suffer poor mental health. Photo / RNZ, Hamish Cardwell

Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern was warmly received by speakers at the event, given her leadership and compassion after the March 15 attacks.

Ardern said we do a disservice to the refugee community if we assume New Zealand is doing them a favour by allowing them to come here.

"It is us who benefit from all of [their] potential.

"We are the ones that ... [get] that skill, and that education and that wide verity of experience. We are the lucky ones, but also the ones who have the responsibility to help realise that potential - and we are not always good at that, and there is a lot of work for us to do to be better at that."

Ardern was challenged over the Government's migrant family re-unification policy and mental health support for refugees.

An attendee said it was nearly impossible for people from some countries to bring family members to New Zealand, and asked what the Government was doing about it.

Ethiopian coffee is prepared for the Prime Minister and guests. Photo / RNZ, Hamish Cardwell

Ardern said it had increased funding for resettlements but there were other barriers, such as issues getting appropriate identity documents.

Attendee Kalkida Yohannes said many young people in the refugee and migrant communities suffered poor mental health.

But she said the recent mental health funding boost by the Government was not reaching these people.