Monday 22 February 2016
Anglican Church of Wellington kits out homes ahead of Syrian refugee arrivals to Wellington
The Anglican Church partners with volunteer groups to furnish homes for Wellington’s first arrival of refugees; Anglican
Bishop of Wellington calls on the government to double NZ’s annual refugee quota
Parishioners from churches across the lower North Island have heeded a call from Justin Duckworth, Anglican Bishop of
Wellington, for household items to kit out homes for the first arrival of 95 Syrian refugees settling in Wellington.
Kitchenware, bathroom appliances, soft linen and other essential household items will be brought from as far afield as
Wanganui, Palmerston North and the Wairarapa by parishioners who want to welcome refugees to Wellington in the most
practical way possible.
The church sent out a list of required goods to parishes two weeks ago and items are to be delivered on Sunday 21
February to the Capital. The goods will be housed at the Loaves and Fishes Hall, part of the Wellington Cathedral of St
Paul, ready to be set up in homes next week, ahead of the refugee arrivals later this month.
“We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response to our call for assistance,” says Bishop Justin. “The people of the
Anglican Church of the lower North Island want to welcome those fleeing the war in Syria with open arms and this is one
practical way that we can help.
“This will be the largest ever group of refugees to Wellington and that is why we have teamed up with other
organisations to make sure that we are ready to make the new arrivals feel at home when they get here.”
Preparing homes for the refugees has been a partnership between government agencies, religious and volunteer
organisations. The government refugee resettlement programme has been responsible for providing 25 homes as well as
furniture for each family. All other household items are being provided by the Anglican and Catholic churches who are
taking responsibility for setting up 10 homes respectively. The New Zealand Islamic Centre is catering for the final
five homes and the Red Cross will assign volunteers to each family so as to provide ongoing support as they settle.
In the past, the Red Cross has kitted out houses for refugees but due to the sheer scale of arrivals, religious
organisations have come together to lend a hand. They will offer the same support when the next group of refugees arrive
in Wellington in April. The Anglican Church is providing additional practical support such as offering up the Cathedral
for the Red Cross orientation days for the refugee families in early March.
It’s time for New Zealand to double the refugee quota
Bishop Justin and the Anglican Diocese of Wellington have joined a chorus of other organisations calling for the
government to double New Zealand’s annual quota of refugees from 750 to 1500 people.
“Overwhelmingly, what we see in our church and with the public of New Zealand, is a people who have a desire to help
those in need who are fleeing the ravages of war and conflict. It’s the Kiwi way to lend a hand to our neighbour in
need. We are calling on the government to hear the voice of the people and to double the quota.”
The government is expected to make a decision on whether to increase the annual quota in March. While the government is
not consulting the public on this issue, Amnesty International has established a public online submission process, Our
Voices, where New Zealanders can support a doubling of the quota. The Anglican Church has made a submission and Amnesty
International will be sharing this, along with all others gathered, to the government.
In June of last year the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) calculated that approximately 60
million people had been displaced, predominately as a result of conflict. This is the greatest displacement of people
from war and conflict since the Second World War and globally represents one in every 122 people. Half of these are
children. Two-thirds have been in exile for five years or longer; four-fifths are living in the developing world, in
nations which can least afford to house them.
New Zealand’s annual refugee quota has not been increased since 1987 and we lag – per head of population – many
developed countries, include Australia, in terms of the number of refugees we welcome each year.
ENDS