3.1 New Zealand Immigration Policy Framework

In 2006, a New Zealand Immigration Policy Framework was developed as part of a substantive Immigration Change Programme. This framework identified immigration objectives for government. These are presented on the next page.

Skills, security and settlement were identified as three key areas of focus if New Zealand was to proactively meet the challenges of increasing global mobility, increasing global competition for skilled migrants, heightened security issues, and the on-going need to meet the challenges of a diverse society. The SNAP is a key platform for proactive settlement activities to meet these challenges. In addition, the framework identified the need for an on-going strategic knowledge base involving both research and evaluation to inform immigration-related work.

More recently the Department of Labour has been working on a review of the refugee resettlement policy to provide a common direction at a national level to support the ongoing collaboration by government, regional, non-government and communities in refugee resettlement. This work has involved consultation across government and with key stakeholders at local and community levels.

The SKB project comprises one of the key planks for developing an on-going strategic knowledge base to inform immigration-related work. A key focus of the SKB project is to support and inform the settlement-related government immigration objectives and refugee resettlement policy. Therefore, it is important that the SKB framework aligns strongly with the immigration framework that has been developed as well as the inter-agency agreed common direction for refugee resettlement.

3.2 The New Zealand Settlement Strategy

The New Zealand Settlement Strategy (NZSS) provides a whole-of-government framework aimed at achieving a consistent nation-wide approach to settlement-related policies and services. It was developed using a collaborative approach in recognition of the importance of working in partnership across government and also with those who work directly in the settlement area. Development of the NZSS was undertaken in consultation with migrants and refugees.

Following its launch in 2004, the NZSS was revised in 2006 and re-launched in 2007. The revised NZSS places a greater focus on the two way nature of the settlement process. It more clearly articulates the important roles that both New Zealanders (and New Zealand communities) and people new to New Zealand (newcomers) have in this process. The NZSS identifies newcomers as people who come to New Zealand to work, live and/or learn either on a temporary permit basis or as new permanent residents.

The NZSS vision is:

New Zealand's prosperity is underpinned by an inclusive society, in which the local and national integration of newcomers is supported by responsive services, a welcoming environment and a shared respect for diversity.

The NZSS identifies high level goals which describe how settlement contributes to the government priorities of Economic Transformation, Families - Young and Old, and National Identity. The intermediate level goals in turn contribute to the high level goals. The Settlement National Action Plan (SNAP) identifies central government initiatives that will contribute to meeting these intermediate level goals. This framework is depicted on the next page.

The SKB project aims to establish a strategic knowledge base framework that can inform the work of the NZSS at a central government level and at a regional level where possible. This framework provides the basis for further work to develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation platform for the NZSS. In the first instance, this work focuses on the identification of indicators that are aligned with the stated goals of the NZSS.

This first phase of the SKB project focuses on indicators relating to the NZSS intermediate level goals. It is envisaged that indicators relating to the high level goals will be further examined through the mapping exercise taking into account substantive initiatives that are currently being undertaken such as the:

• three-year research programme on the economic impacts of immigration to New Zealand being led by the Department of Labour
• work on social cohesion indicators led by the Ministry of Social Development
• research regarding the perspectives of quota refugees who arrived here ten or more years ago and have settled in New Zealand led by the Department of Labour and funded by the Cross Departmental Research Pool
• recently commenced five-year research programme on the Integration of Immigrants led by a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from Massey University and the University of Waikato funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.

At a project level, it is expected that each SNAP initiative will have its own evaluation approach to understand the extent that it has achieved its expected outcomes.

Figure 1: The New Zealand Settlement Strategy

Regional settlement strategies have been launched in Auckland and Wellington that focus on the regional context and complement the national level focus of the NZSS. These strategies have been developed in partnership with central and local government, non-government organisations and other stakeholders with settlement-related interests including migrants, and refugees. They include a vision and identified regional settlement goals. Both strategies have associated Plans of Action that outline regional initiatives aimed at improving settlement outcomes for newcomers.

The Auckland Regional Settlement Strategy was launched in 2006 and was developed under the umbrella of the Auckland Sustainable Cities Programme. Auckland region is a primary point of arrival to New Zealand and a key place of settlement for migrants and refugees.

The Strategy's vision is that:

Migrants, refugees and their families have a sense of belonging through opportunities to fully participate and contribute economically and socially in the Auckland region; and by being recognised and respected as equal and valued New Zealanders.

The Wellington Regional Settlement Strategy was launched recently this year. It aims to improve settlement outcomes for newcomers in the Wellington region over the next five years. The Wellington Regional Settlement Strategy vision is that:

The people of the Wellington region welcome and support newcomers to settle successfully and newcomers participate, prosper, connect and contribute to the well-being of our communities.

The Wellington strategy and Plan of Action complements the Wellington Regional Action Plan for Refugee Health and Well-being which was launched in 2006.

Although the SKB project primarily has a national level focus, it is essential that its development aligns with and complements these regional initiatives. The development of the strategic knowledge base and indicators will be undertaken with a view to ensuring that, where possible, regional level knowledge and information of value is gained. It will also be important that knowledge and information gained through work undertaken in the regional strategies is reflected in the national knowledge base picture.

3.4 Social Cohesion and Diversity

In recent years there has been an increased New Zealand government (and global) focus on social cohesion and understanding (and managing the potential risks) of diverse societies. The Connecting Diverse Communities project was launched in March 2007. It is a whole-of-government approach that aims to improve and better co-ordinate initiatives across government agencies to promote social cohesion and stronger relationships between diverse ethnic, cultural and religious communities.  This project is jointly led by the Ministry of Social Development and the Office of Ethnic Affairs. 

The project goal is for New Zealand to be a cohesive society where relations between diverse communities are strong and valued. It has identified five areas of primary focus which involve cross-government activity:

• strengthening intercultural relationships
• addressing discrimination and promoting respect
• improving connections with cultural identity
• capacity building and community development
• building the knowledge base.

Part of this programme of work has included a focus on indicators of social cohesion where social cohesion has been framed according to the five dimensions identified by Jensen.^[2] These are:

• belonging (as opposed to isolation)
• participation (as opposed to non-involvement)
• inclusion (as opposed to exclusion)
• recognition (as opposed to rejection)
• legitimacy (as opposed to illegitimacy). 

Projects include the recently completed report 'Diverse Communities - Exploring the Migrant and Refugee Experience in New Zealand' which brings together existing data and research on migrant and refugee outcomes in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Diversity Action Programme is facilitated by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. It connects organisations that value cultural diversity and promote positive race relations in New Zealand. Participants in the Programme register one or more projects each year that support cultural diversity and positive relationships. Participants are wide ranging and include community organisations, government agencies, local authorities, educational institutions, faith communities, media, sector groups, libraries, and museums. A New Zealand Diversity Forum is held annually in August as part of the Programme.

The SKB project is positioned to complement and augment current initiatives focusing on social cohesion and diversity. To ensure that there is no undue duplication of resource and effort, the first phase of the SKB project will focus on identifying indicators relating to the intermediate level goals of the NZSS. The contribution of existing social cohesion and diversity initiatives to understanding settlement outcomes in relation to the NZSS high level goals will be examined in the latter stages of this project (mapping phase) and an approach to any further work required relating to these goals can then be developed.