Refugee Quota Branch

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Refugee Quota Branch
Presentation for UK Delegation March 2008
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Humanitarian response programme

• NZ has been accepting refugees for resettlement
  since the end of the Second World War.
• 1987 Govt established a formal annual quota for
  resettlement of Refugees.
• NZ is party to both the 1951 Refugee Convention
  and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of
  Refugees.

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Quota Composition
PROTECTION
WAR
Medical/ Disabled

• 750 /- 10
• 3 subcategories
• Women at risk (WAR) (75 people)
• Medical/disabled (75 people)
• 600 others (up 300 family reunification cases)

Family Reunion
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Pre-Selection Mission Preparation

• UNHCR RRF received and assessed
• Information collection and assessment
• - Country background information
• - Particular group background information
• - Refugee Camp background information
• DoL resources

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Interview Process

• Environment
• Introduction
• Confidentiality
• Obligation to provide full information
• Consent to the interview
• Interpreters
• Questions and answers
• Settlement needs and expectations
• Declaration

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Decision process

• During the decision making process RQB takes into
  consideration the following three main factors
• Credibility
• Risk
• Settlement / suitability of the case

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Arrival

• Travel to NZ
• Stay at Mangere
• Liaise with other agencies
• Co-ordinate orientation/assessment programme
• Day to day care
• 6 intakes per year, stay 6 weeks at MRRC
• Settlement location
• Family reunification

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Asylum Seekers

• Mangere Accommodation Centre
• - Up to 28 at any time
• Takanini Centre
• - up to 42 at any time

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Key Challenges

• Risk
• Selection Mission Environment
• Verification
• History of trauma
• Lack of public awareness
• Inability to meet all family reunification needs
• Balancing humanitarian needs with settlement
  outcomes
• Variety

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• Thank you
• Christina Fordyce
• Branch Manager
• Refugee Quota Branch