AIDE MEMOIRE
Next steps for the refresh of the refugee and migrant settlement
strategies
Date:
10 March 2023
Priority:
Medium
Security
In Confidence
Tracking
2223-2780
classification:
number:
Information for Minister(s)
Hon Ginny Andersen
Associate Minister of Immigration
Hon Michael Wood
Minister of Immigration
Contact for telephone discussion (if required)
Name
Position
Telephone
1st contact
Acting General Manager, s 9(2)(a)
Andrew Lockhart
Refugee and Migrant
Services
Manager, Immigration
(International and
Sam Foley
Humanitarian) Policy,
Labour, Skil s and
Enterprise
The fol owing departments/agencies have been consulted
Minister’s office to complete:
Approved
Declined
Noted
Needs change
Seen
Overtaken by Events
See Minister’s Notes
Withdrawn
out of scope
Who is to be covered by each strategy
It is proposed that coverage by the refugee
(based on a needs-based approach and
strategy is expanded to include other refugee
consistent with the ultimate purpose of these and refugee-like/background cohorts1
frameworks)
alongside Quota refugees and that Pacific
Access and Samoan Quota category
resident visa holders and those on a clear
pathway to residence be added to the priority
groups for the migrant strategy.
out of scope
1 Including Convention Refugee and Protected Persons, Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship category,
Refugee Family Support category and Afghan evacuees and interpreters resident visa holders. Asylum and Protection
Claimants would remain outside the scope of the Refugee Resettlement Strategy.
out of scope
2223 – 2780
In Confidence
4
BRIEFING
Proposed next steps with the Refresh of the refugee resettlement and
migrant settlement strategies
Date:
21 April 2023
Priority:
High
Security
In Confidence
Tracking
2223-3272
classification:
number:
Action sought
Action sought
Deadline
Hon Michael Wood
Agree to options to include in a Cabinet paper 24 April 2023
Minister of Immigration on the refresh of the refugee resettlement and
migrant settlement strategies
Hon Rachel Brooking
For your information
At your convenience
Associate Minister of
Immigration
Contact for telephone discussion (if required)
Name
Position
Telephone
1st contact
General Manager
s 9(2)(a)
Fiona Whiteridge
Refugee and Migrant
Services, Immigration
New Zealand
Manager, Immigration
Sam Foley
(International and
Humanitarian) Policy
The following departments/agencies have been consulted
Department of Internal Affairs, Ministry for Housing and Urban Development, Kainga Ora,
Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, Ministry for Women,
Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Ministry for Social Development, New Zealand Police, Oranga
Tamariki have been consulted as part of this ongoing work.
Minister’s office to complete:
Approved
Declined
Noted
Needs change
Seen
Overtaken by Events
See Minister’s Notes
Withdrawn
out of scope
We do not recommend Refugee and Protection Claimants (asylum seekers) are covered at this stage
39. You provided feedback on the initial proposal not to extend coverage by the NZRRS to asylum
seekers, noting a clearer rationale would need to be provided to support this proposal.
40. Despite community advocacy and support from the ESG for inclusion of asylum seekers in the
scope of the NZRRS, of icials remain of the opinion that asylum seekers who are yet to have
had a final determination of their claim should not be captured by the NZRRS. This is on the
basis that this group includes temporary visa holders with no clear pathway to settlement and
individuals with unlawful status while the strategies focus on settlement outcomes for those
likely to settle in Aotearoa New Zealand. Successful claimants would instead be covered once
their claim had been approved.
41. It is however recognised that this group can have complex needs and significant work is
required across government to ensure asylum seekers are supported during the claim process
in order to address any barriers that would impact on their ability to engage in, and pursue their
claim.
42. Of icials are available to discuss this with you, including the timing and priority of further work
in this space, noting that work to support asylum claimants wil span multiple
agencies/portfolios.
out of scope
2223-3272
In Confidence
12
BRIEFING
Refresh of the refugee resettlement and migrant settlement strategies –
foundational changes and next phases of this work
Date:
7 December 2022
Priority:
Medium
Security
In Confidence
Tracking
2223-1706
classification:
number:
Action sought
Action sought
Deadline
Hon Michael Wood
Agree to options to include in an initial
16 December 2022
Minister of Immigration Cabinet paper on the refresh of the refugee
resettlement and migrant settlement strategies
Agree further work is undertaken as part of
the refresh
Agree to forward this briefing to relevant
Ministers
Hon Phil Twyford
For your information
N/A
Associate Minister of
Immigration
Contact for telephone discussion (if required)
Name
Position
Telephone
1st contact
General Manager
s 9(2)(a)
Fiona Whiteridge
Refugee and Migrant
Services, Immigration
New Zealand
Manager, Immigration
Sam Foley
(International and
Humanitarian) Policy
The fol owing departments/agencies have been consulted
Department of Internal Affairs, Ministry for Housing and Urban Development, Kainga Ora,
Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, Ministry for Women,
Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Ministry for Social Development, New Zealand Police, Oranga
Tamariki.
Minister’s office to complete:
Approved
Declined
Noted
Needs change
Seen
Overtaken by Events
See Minister’s Notes
Withdrawn
out of scope
We do not recommend coverage of the NZRRS include Refugee and Protection Claimants (asylum
seekers) at this stage
62. There are arguments to be made for including Refugee and Protection Claimants on temporary
work or student visas under the NZRRS’ monitoring and reporting framework on the basis that:
•
over 50 percent of asylum and protection claims13 are confirmed so a significant
proportion of asylum and protection claimants would end up settling permanently into
Aotearoa New Zealand (unlike other cohorts mentioned above);
•
early availability of data on settlement challenges and needs related to asylum and
protection claimants’ drawn-out claim journey14 may inform early interventions to
accelerate successful settlement for this cohort;
•
the stakeholder engagement phase confirmed strong community desire to include
Refugee and Protection Claimants; and
•
there has been long-standing advocacy by communities and service providers alike for
inclusion of Refugee and Protection Claimants under the NZRRS.
63. However, based on the proposed approach to coverage, and the focus on residence and long-
term settlement, officials are not proposing to include Refugee and Protection Claimants at this
stage.
64. It is recognised that there are gaps in the current system that provides support to Refugee and
Protection Claimants and work is under way to address these separately from the Refresh.
The programme of work to implement the Casey Review recommendations includes
consideration of resources required, including funding options to support community care and
management of claimants. In addition, when considering the additional support and services
which might be needed for the groups proposed to be included under the NZRRS, of icials will
consider whether those services should also be extended to asylum seekers based on their
needs during the claims process.
out of scope
2223-1706
In Confidence
14
