NEWCOMER

Newcomers are defined as non-New Zealanders coming to live, learn and work in New Zealand for a short (temporary) or long term (permanent residence) basis including :

• Non-New Zealanders who accompany returning New Zealanders and who intend to live, learn and/or work in New Zealand
• International students
• Non-New Zealanders who return repeatedly to live, learn and/or work in New Zealand over a period of time (eg. Recognised Seasonal Employer workers).

For the purposes of this project, the term newcomer does not include:

• Expatriates returning to New Zealand
• People visiting New Zealand (tourists) - as they are not intending to live, learn and work here
• New Zealanders by descent coming to live in New Zealand for the first time
• Non-New Zealanders who have fully settled in New Zealand as permanent residents, leave the country and then return (as they are considered to fall within the category of "expatriates").

The Newcomer Settlement Continuum (NSC)

RECEIVING AND HOST COMMUNITIES

Both the terms receiving and host are used in this descriptor to depict both active community activities relating to the settlement of newcomers (host activities) and passive responses (receiving community). The receiving and host communities can be characterised in a range of ways and some of the key groups are noted in the diagram. The term 'like' communities has been used to more generally refer to groups that have something in common with the newcomer that acts as a potential point of connection. Receiving and host communities and newcomers are all positioned as central actors in the framework.

The NSC signals key factors that enable communities to contribute to the positive settlement of newcomers including informed planning, strong connected infrastructures, and sufficient resources, capacities and capabilities.

TIMEFRAME

The main focus of the framework is on the provision of services that facilitate settlement in the first five years post arrival. This includes targeted pre-arrival activities such as information provision. It is recognised that for some newcomers, the settlement path will be shorter and for others longer. In particular, it is recognised that the settlement path for refugees may be longer.

SETTLEMENT PATHWAY

Settlement is a non-linear journey. For the purposes of the framework, three key areas of focus have been identified. These are Pre-arrival; Arrival and settling; and Integrated/settled.

• Pre-arrival: refers to a period leading up to moving to New Zealand. Prior to arrival, newcomers may have a range of links with New Zealand and New Zealand communities may have a range of links with them. Pre-arrival information and activities provide an early context for the settlement journey for both newcomers and potentially New Zealand communities.
• Arrival and Settling: refers to a period post-arrival in New Zealand where there is high settlement focused activity for both newcomers and New Zealand communities. Newcomers will have access to targeted settlement services and some mainstream services. As knowledge, understandings and connections increase, it is expected that settlement activities will decrease and an increasingly wider range of mainstream services will be able to be accessed as newcomers move along the NSC. A subset of newcomers with temporary residence status will not be entitled to access all mainstream services and do not proceed further along the NSC. Some of this sub-group may repeatedly return to New Zealand for temporary periods, and some may transition to a permanent residence status and proceed further along the NSC.^[3]
• Integrated and settled^[4]: refers to newcomers who can access all mainstream services should they wish to and do not require targeted settlement services to do so. This is depicted as the final period of the NSC and is ideally characterised by newcomers who understand their rights; have equal access to opportunities; and have choices and social connections. Essentially, these newcomers are no longer newcomers and have transitioned to feeling accepted, having a sense of belonging and being part of New Zealand communities. This outcome is facilitated through an inclusive New Zealand society with responsive services and a shared respect for diversity.

Links between source country and New Zealand

A component of the newcomer experience is the connections that are made between the source country and New Zealand. These connections will be evident to varying levels throughout the settlement process. Even if they do not permanently settle here, the connections that a newcomer makes may provide on-going benefits to New Zealand by increasing international networks and our global connectedness.

Participating in all spheres of life

Realising the positive contribution that newcomers can make to New Zealand and our national identity can only be achieved in a society that promotes and facilitates participation in all spheres of life. This includes enabling newcomers to contribute to New Zealand's national identity by expressing their diverse cultural identities and practices.

Factors and measures: the role of expectations, attitudes, knowledge, actions/experience, and outcomes

Five key factors have been identified relating to both newcomers and New Zealand communities that influence the settlement pathway. These are expectations, attitudes, knowledge, actions/experiences, and outcomes. There is a complex relationship and interplay amongst these factors throughout the settlement continuum for both newcomers and New Zealand communities. For example, a newcomer's knowledge of New Zealand (and New Zealanders) will inform their expectations prior to arrival, which will influence their actions and experiences and subsequent outcomes. These in turn may influence expectations and attitudes and so on.

These factors also relate to New Zealand and New Zealand communities in terms of responses to newcomers. This may be especially the case if newcomers are from a source country which the community has had little connection with previously^[5].

Key variables

An initial set of key variables that need to be taken into account for understanding newcomer and New Zealand community differences in the settlement pathway have been identified. These are listed below. These key variables will be taken into account as part of mapping our current understanding of the settlement of newcomers. They have also been used generally as the basis for considering the level of sub-group disaggregation that potential indicators may be able to provide (see Section 5 below).

• Newcomer
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Sex
  • Place of Birth
  • Ethnicity
  • Family composition
  • Length of time since arrival in NZ
  • English speaking ability
  • Migrant stream eg investor, family parent, refugee quota
  • Pre-migration experience of New Zealand
  • Existing support available from family, relatives, friends and others
  • Job offer specific to skills
  • Qualifications
  • Years of education
• New Zealand Community
  • Regional Demographics
    • Ethnicity
    • Age
    • Generations in NZ
  • Business, Education, Voluntary Sector