DEVELOPING A NEW ZEALAND SETTLEMENT KNOWLEDGE BASE:
1 INTRODUCTION
This working paper reports on Phase One of a three phase research project to establish a New Zealand settlement knowledge base platform. Phase One involves the development of a Settlement Knowledge Base framework and an initial identification of indicators relating to the New Zealand Settlement Strategy.
The New Zealand Settlement Strategy (NZSS) was first launched by the Government in December 2004. It is an integrated framework that focuses on proactively supporting newcomers through the challenges of settlement so that they can take up opportunities and make a positive social and economic contribution to New Zealand. This strategy is a whole-of-government framework to achieve agreed settlement outcomes for migrants, refugees and their families.
The NZSS is framed within the government priorities of Economic Transformation, Families Young and Old, and National Identity. It also sets out high level and intermediate settlement goals. The Settlement National Action Plan (SNAP) sets out what will be done at a national level under each of the Strategy's high-level goals to support the achievement of this vision. The development of the Settlement Knowledge Base (SKB) is Action Point 4.2 of the SNAP. It is a cross-agency government initiative led by the Department of Labour (DoL).
The aim of the overall SKB project is to build an improved understanding of settlement outcomes for newcomers to New Zealand across central government agencies through a work programme which:
- identifies outcome-related measures and indicators at a range of levels,
- maps the knowledge base and identifies research gaps, and
- identifies research investment strategies and collaborative opportunities to enhance research knowledge and capacities.
Following completion of the SKB framework and initial indicators (Phase One), the knowledge base (or prioritised components of it) will be mapped and an indicator report developed (Phase Two) and research investment strategies identified (Phase Three) by June 2009. The SKB framework forms the basis for developing a matrix of settlement focus areas to map the current evidence base. Mapping the evidence base will enable us to identify and prioritise information gaps for developing research approaches to further build our understanding of the settlement of newcomers. It is envisaged that key findings from the mapping exercise will be disseminated through working papers which will be made publicly available. It is expected that the completion of this initial SKB project by June 2009 will form the basis for further building of the SKB in subsequent years.
The SKB project and follow-on activities will be useful for:
- monitoring progress towards achieving the goals of the NZSS through the activities of the SNAP[1]
- understanding the extent to which New Zealand settlement practice leads or is aligned with international best practice
- contributing to other government-related work such as the Connecting Diverse Communities Project which has research and evaluation as one of its themes
- informing evidence-based policy development and review
- capturing synergies and identifying tensions, gaps or overlaps between different forms of settlement research activity.
[1] Although the primary monitoring aims of the SKB project are related specifically to the NZSS and SNAP, information from this work may also be useful for informing other settlement-related initiatives outside the formal auspices of the NZSS and SNAP.