Dunedin prepares to welcome refugees

Dunedin (Friday, 22 January 2016) – Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull, on behalf of the Dunedin City Council and in collaboration with the Dunedin Refugee Steering Group, will host a community planning and information meeting early next month in preparation for the arrival of the first Syrian refugees to Dunedin in April.

Mr Cull says the aim of the 2 February meeting is to provide the wider Dunedin community with information about the refugee resettlement process and the plans in place for the arrival of the first group of around 45 Syrian refugees in April.

"This will also be an opportunity to discuss the settlement challenges and for groups and individuals to identify what they can do in response," he says.

Mr Cull, Andrew Lockhart (Immigration New Zealand) and Rachel O’Connor (NZ Red Cross) will deliver presentations at the meeting. These will be followed by a panel discussion which allows the opportunity for attendees to ask questions about the resettlement process. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to be part of small group discussions on:

Host community engagement and how can we prepare and inform the host community for refugee arrivals?

Youth integration: What does Dunedin have available for integrating youth into social activities?

Volunteers: How can Dunedin maintain the number of volunteers required on an annual basis?

"The people of Dunedin have an important part to play in the successful integration of refugee families into our community," Mr Cull says. "Over the next few months there will be a series of meetings to help people understand what is required to help make the resettlement of refugees positive and to provide an opportunity to address any concerns."

On Wednesday, 27 January, Mr Cull, Hon Michael Woodhouse, Clare Curran and David Clark will meet with Sue Price from Red Cross Dunedin to get an update on the resettlement planning process and to show a united expression of support for refugee resettlement in Dunedin.

The public community planning and information meeting will be held at the Glenroy Auditorium from 6pm on Tuesday, 2 February.

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