On Monday from 11.00am -12.30pm Hagley College is hosting "Refugees: Learning Initiatives at Hagley College".

Also on Monday, from 1.30pm-3.00pm, the New Zealand National Refugee Network is running the "Refugee Agenda: Nothing About Us Without Us" session.

There are a range of other forums you can attend; check out the programme for more details. Register online NOW.

Yvonne runs classes four times a week where former refugees from Somali, Djibouti, Afghan, Iraqi and Congolese communities can practise their English and study aspects of NZ culture, including learning Kiwi recipes and how the local health system works.

She also provides daily support to Congolese grandmother Henriette Ekuchu and her grandson Elie. "I can get called at any hour of the night from [Elie]", said Yvonne. "I've been rung up at 10.00pm to help him with his homework. I feel it's quite a privilege in that respect, because he needs someone that he can ring up and feel free to do so."

You can read about the other Unsung Hero winners online.

Co-launched by English Language Partners New Zealand and ChangeMakers Refugee Forum, supporters can find out about new initiatives and events, and post their own comments, photos and links on the page.

"There are a myriad of volunteers working to help people to settle in - either through our organisation, or through other initiatives. Some are also from refugee backgrounds themselves and keen to give back to their communities," says Claire Szabo, Chief Executive of English Language Partners New Zealand.

Become a fan today of "I support refugee resettlement in NZ".

Over 20,000 UNHCR mandated ("Quota") refugees have been accepted for resettlement in New Zealand since 1979. Mangere - First Steps to a New Future chronicles the history of the Mangere centre from when it first became an immigration hostel in 1953, and includes reflections from 13 former residents, along with a brief history of quota refugee resettlement in New Zealand.

The launch event was attended by approximately 120 people including the Minister of Immigration, the Hon Dr Jonathon Coleman, other MPs, refugee community members, MRRC staff and representatives from government and non-government agencies in the refugee field.

Following a welcome and the launch of the commemorative booklet, the Minister of Immigration spoke about the importance of the Refugee Quota Programme and praised the work done at MRRC. The Minister then participated in the planting of a commemorative kauri tree and was joined in this by former refugees, many of whom had passed through the MRRC over the years.

Email the Department of Labour Media Centre for more information.

Saker's article traces NZ's tradition of including refugees with disabilities in its refugee settlement quota. Today the quota includes the Women at Risk and Medical/Disabled sub-categories. International conventions and domestic law frameworks, such as the NZ Settlement Strategy, are also referenced.

Brandon and Smith's piece examines the nuts and bolts of support for refugees with disabilities upon and after arrival. Issues such as transition permits and access to appropriate interpreters are addressed. The article includes learnings and recommendations for effective support.

The publication is available to read online or you can email for printed copies.

Country of Origin

• Afghanistan (55)
• Burundi (36)
• Bhutan (176)
• Columbia (71)
• Congo (5)
• D R Congo (63)
• Ecuador (7)
• Eritrea (23)
• Ethiopia (30)
• Iran (12)
• Iraq (36)
• Myanmar (126)
• Nepal (6)
• Palestine (16)
• Rwanda (8)
• Somalia (5)
• Sri Lanka (13)
• Sudan (21)
• Total (709)

Country of Refuge

• Afghanistan (27)
• Azerbaijan (1)
• Bangladesh (22)
• Cambodia (0)
• Cameroon (0)
• Congo (2)
• D R Congo (3)
• Ecuador (78)
• Ethiopia (5)
• Great Britain (1)
• India (7)
• Indonesia (1)
• Iran (0)
• Iraq (19)
• Jordan (1)
• Kenya (22)
• Malaysia (54)
• Nambia (3)
• Nepal (176)
• Pakistan (6)
• Philippines (7)
• Sudan (44)
• Syria (40)
• Tajikistan (15)
• Tanzania (28)
• Thailand (62)
• Turkey (1)
• Uganda (84)
• Total (709)

Refugee status claims received

June saw 43 refugee claims lodged with the RSB by asylum seekers making a year end total of 382 claims lodged - an average of 31.8 per month. Last financial year's claims averaged 20.5 per month (246 in total), so there has been a significant increase in asylum claims this year.

The 43 claims received in June were comprised of people of 15 nationalities: Fiji (10), Saudi Arabia (6), Iran (5), Czech Republic (4), South Africa (4), Zimbabwe (3), Iraq (2), Sri Lanka (2), and one each from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ethiopia, Hungary and Syria.

Overall, in this financial year, people of 51 nationalities have sought asylum. The top 15 nationalities are below:

Number of claims

• Fiji (57)
• Sri Lanka (34)
• Iran (30)
• China (25)
• India (24)
• Iraq (24)
• Czech Republic (22)
• Pakistan (18)
• South Africa (18)
• Slovakia (16)
• Saudi Arabia (11)
• Zimbabwe (11)
• Egypt (9)
• Bangladesh (7)
• Brazil (7)
• Others (69)
• Total (382)

Decisions

June saw 51 refugee claims decided by the Refugee Status Branch, of which 10 were approved. This makes the overall approval rate for 2009-2010 27.2% compared with last financial year's 29.8%.

People from the following nationalities were approved; China (Falun Gong and a Uigher), Iraq (two Christians), Pakistan (domestic violence and an Ahmadi), and one each from Cameroon (political activist), Egypt (status of women), Saudi Arabia (status of women) and Somalia (minority clan).

People from the following nationalities were declined; China (5), Czech Republic (5), Fiji (4), Slovakia (4), South Africa (4), Sri Lanka (4), Iran (3), Turkey (3), Lithuania (2), and one each from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Kiribati, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe.

Developed by Peter Shaw, Ministry of Education (MOE) psychologist, the CALD resource will provide country and ethnic specific information for major refugee populations. It will be trialled in the MOE - Group Special Education (GSE) Auckland office this year.

The CALD programme is also expanding to social service providers in the NGO sector.

The Refugees as Survivors New Zealand (RASNZ) CALD Training Development Project is supported by Te Pou: New Zealand's National Centre of Mental Health Research, Information and Workforce Development, in collaboration with the Waitemata DH B.

Amanda's research was conducted with the support of a media grant awarded by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.

You can read "No refuge" online.

The resource includes sections on "Best Practice", "Education" and "Law and Immigration". Participants can join, add content and take part in discussions.

You can read a full transcript of the speech online.

Zheela Vokes, who has recently returned to the Commission's Christchurch office, after parental leave, will resume editorship of the newsletter from next month. Please email all your news and events to Zheela.

Nga mihi mahana ki a koutou, Josephine.

The group hopes to share ideas that will assist these communities in becoming safer in, on and around the water.

Date: Friday 6 August
Time: 10.00am - 12.00pm
Venue: WaterSafe Auckland, 3 Arawa St, Grafton

To register your interest email Stacey Willcox (Ph: 09 306 0809) or visit the WaterSafe Auckland website for more information.