Auckland Regional Migrant Services (ARMS)

Auckland Regional Migrant Services’ (ARMS) mission is to facilitate successful settlement for migrants and refugees across the Auckland region through the provision of information, advice and support. We do this through effective coordination, community networking, specialist services, and informed advocacy.

ARMS’ Regional Centre is in Three Kings, with another centre in Manukau City Centre. As well as providing services to migrants and refugees, ARMS works closely with settler community groups, service providers and Government departments, providing coordination and collaboration to enhance settlement outcomes across the region. For more information please visit the ARMS website.

Projects 2011
New2Auckland Expo

New2 Auckland Expo is the place to be on the 9July. The Expo is for New Aucklanders seeking information employment, settlement, housing, education, health, finance and much more! It will be held at the ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane Road.

Previously known as the Migrant Expo, this is New Zealand’s foremost annual exhibition for people seeking information to settle here.  Exhibitors will include a wide range of businesses and  service providers, alongside food stalls and a variety of information activities.

Auckland Regional Migrant Services sees this new event as extremely useful, according Executive Director, Mary Dawson.  “This revamped Expo for New Aucklanders will provide plenty of helpful information and advice about what is available to them to play an increasingly significant part in the economy of our diverse city.  It will be an opportunity to showcase what what your organisation has to offer our newcomers in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”

If you are a service provider and wish to register for a stall space, please email Mel Fernandez on migrantexpo@xtra.co.nz.

ARMS Race Relations Day Event

Auckland Regional Migrant Services (ARMS) celebrated Race Relations Day on April 8th with an event exploring contemporary Treaty developments. Guest speaker was Edwina Pio, author of

The event also promoted the highly successful Tangata Tiriti resource kit and workshops that provide interactive educational opportunities for migrants to better understand the contemporary significance of the Treaty and its significance for the peoples of New Zealand/Aotearoa.

Regional SSNZ Initiative

ARMS is the lead agency and administrator of regional activities aimed at ensuring that the right settlement information is available, in the right way, at the right time for Auckland’s newcomers. These activities are:

  • A Regional Settlement Support Network of organisations with some responsibility for providing information, support or guidance to newcomers to the region.
  • A Regional Settlement newcomers Forum to gain valuable input from newcomers.
  • A regular regional newsletter for key stakeholders
  • An Auckland Regional Settlement Steering Group of key service providers
Treaty of Waitangi Education for Migrants

i)             Tangata Tiriti Resource Kit

ARMS is the distributor of this excellent resource for newcomers about the Treaty of Waitangi, and can also organise the delivery of Tangata Tiriti workshops and trainings for community facilitators across the country. Find out more about the  Treaty People Resource (Word) or  order Tangata Tiriti by filling in this order form (Word).

ii)            Treaty of Waitangi Interactive Workshops

These popular workshops are free, sponsored by Auckland Council, and are for migrants interested in learning more about the Treaty of Waitangi, exploring its significance for Aotearoa/New Zealand as a country and for themselves as new settlers. The day long workshop is led by two experienced facilitators, and a certificate of participation is awarded at the end of the workshop. Contact ARMS for a list of 2011 workshops in Auckland or if your organisation is holding a workshop.

Safari Multicultural Playgroup Project

This initiative for pre-school children and their parents form Auckland’s refugee communities, run in partnership between the Auckland Refugee Community Coalition (ARCC) and ARMS, is going from strength to strength.  The Playgroup runs in the Lynfield area, filling a gap in early childcare services, is supported by the ASB Community Trust, and mothers are able to attend English language classes held alongside the playgroup.

Settlement.Org.NZ – Auckland region’s own settlement website.

Settlement.Org.NZ will be going live in late-July 2011.  The purpose of this website is to ensure that Auckland’s newcomers are able to become more quickly well informed about the range of information and support services available to assist them.  New Aucklanders will be able to easily access relevant, clearly presented quality information and “how to” advice, and also communicate directly with service providers to obtain more personalised advice and register for services.

Orientation Activities for New Settlers

ARMS continues to develop and coordinate a range of information and orientation activities for new settlers, especially in the Auckland and Manukau areas. Our various settlement and information activities include:

  • Bus tours around the Auckland region
  • Orakei Marae Visits
  • Relating Well In New Zealand workshops
  • General Settlement Information workshops
  • Special topic workshops eg. NZ Education System, Tax System, Alternative Training Pathways.

Contact ARMS for further information.

Employment Assistance Workshops

ARMS runs a variety of collaborative information workshops and support programmes for migrant job seekers.  In 2011, these include:

  • Generic Job Search Workshops
  • Specialist and Special Topic Job Search Workshops
  • Job Search Support Groups
  • Volunteer Work Experience Programme
English Advisory Services

ARMS continues to provide an English Assessment Service for migrants and refugees wishing to know how best to improve their English skills, and also a Pronunciation Course.  Both of these have been proving of real value for skilled migrants.  Contact ARMS for further information.

ARMS Volunteer Scheme

Many of ARMS clients sign on for three months of volunteer work at either the Regional Centre in Three Kings or at the Manukau Centre.  They provide great value to our staff and projects, while gaining crucial experience in an intercultural work place and being able to attend ARMS workshops and activities.  Anyone interested in volunteering with ARMS, please contact reception@arms-mrc.org.nz

Contact: Mary Dawson mary.dawson@arms-mrc.org.nz

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