Wairarapa MP welcomes refugee families

HOME NEEDED: Syrian children waiting in a tent by the Hungarian, Serbian border.

Wairarapa arms should be opened wide for refugees seeking a new home on New Zealand shores, says Wairarapa MP Alastair Scott.

Masterton, and Wairarapa, were well placed to offer a safe haven to refugees after the New Zealand Government confirmed in September that 750 places would be made available for Syrian refugees over the coming three years - 600 of which are on top of the annual quota of 750.

Mr Scott was agreeing with Masterton District Council chief executive Pim Borren at the council meeting on Wednesday that Masterton, and Wairarapa, was "well set up to take refugees" and the right number of families would be a boon to the community over the course of the three-year increased allocation.

"We have a good infrastructure, we're close to the city, but we have relatively affordable housing and accommodation for refugee families," he said.

"Take the example of Palmerston North, which has been taking refugees for over 20 years; fantastic thriving and multicultural city that it is."

Mr Scott said refugee families will need social, educational and language services that "would again create jobs and support services that mean money and jobs for our community" but the optimum number of families will depend on existing services and infrastructure.

"I think you have to bring in a certain number so that there is a community. You can't just bring in one or two families, they would most probably feel isolated. If you could attract a number of families, they would create their own support systems and develop and thrive over time.

"The main thing is you've got to get the councils to agree and make sure our infrastructure, the support services we already have, are strong enough to cope."