On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our New Zealand LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For New Zealand country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our New Zealand COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by New Zealand.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which New Zealand is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
New Zealand is a signatory of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugee and its 1967 Protocol, the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The ‘Immigration Act 2009 is the primary source of immigration law in New Zealand. This legislation provides a legal basis to meet its international responsibilities under the Refugee Convention, the Convention Against Torture, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
For more detail on seeking asylum in New Zealand, protection applications can visit the Information for Asylum Seekers page prepared by the Government of New Zealand.
Legal aid organisations
Website
Facebook
Address: 4 Warnock Street, Grey Lynn
Tel: +64 93 78 74 34
Fax: +64 93 78 74 34
Email: arci.refugee@xtra.co.nz
Hostel
Tel: +64 98 28 60 67
Fax: +64 98 28 60 67
They provide assistance to refugees through welfare benefits, referral to other agencies, English classes, free health clinics, and advocacy services to present refugee claims.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Website
Facebook
Address: Three Kings Plaza, 532 Mt Albert Road, Three Kings
Tel: +64 (0)9 62 52 440
Fax: +64 (0)9 62 52 445
Email: reception@arms-mrc.org.nz or info@arms-mrc.org.nz
The programme has three key elements: a workshop programme to identify job goals and training, to promote understanding of career goals and to provide job search upskilling, individualized support to assist people to achieve their training and job goals, support for the employer and employee post-placement.
Website
Facebook
Email: humanrightsfoundation@xtra.co.nz
Contact person: Margaret Bedggood (Convenor of the Human Rights Interest Group of Refugees)
Email: margaret.bedggood@xtra.co.nz
They promote human rights through research, education and advocacy. The Human Rights Foundation has supported various refugee cases by raising awareness and funds for court proceedings.
Website
Address:427 Sandringham Road, Sandringham, Auckland,New Zealand
PO Box: 27582, Mt Roskill, Auckland 1440
Tel: +64 02 11 34 43 04 (During school hours only) or +64 (09) 62 06 200 or +64 (09) 62 74 050
POONGA works with newly-arrived refugee families who are adapting to New Zealand society. POONGA is a member of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network.
Website
Facebook
Tel: +64 (0)9 27 00 870
Email: admin@rasnz.co.nz
RASNZ provides free, culturally-respectful mental health services to refugees. The RAS team included counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, body therapists, interpreters, and refugee community link workers. RASNZ is a member of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network.
Website
Address: 1224A Dominion Road, Mount Roskill, Auckland 1021
P.O Box 68704, Newton, Auckland 1145
Tel: +64 02 11 19 12 55
Email: info@rc.org.nz
The Refugee Council of New Zealand (RCNZ) is a national organisation whose purpose is to provide advice, information and assistance to asylum-seekers and refugees in New Zealand; promote a strategic response to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers; and to campaign to ensure that New Zealand meets its legal and humanitarian obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention.
The RCNZ is committed to facilitating the participation of refugees and asylum-seekers at all levels in the community. It aims in particular to: ensure that all aspects of New Zealand’s asylum and refugee policy and practice (legal, social, economic, health and cultural) fully respect international law and the human rights of asylum-seekers and refugees; promote public awareness and understanding of refugee and asylum issues; serve the networking, information exchange and advocacy needs of the asylum- seeking / refugee community, the RCNZ membership and other organisations with similar aims.
Website
Address: Level 6, 186 Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington
P.O Box 11469, Manners Street, Wellington 6142
Tel: +64 48 050 350
Fax: +64 48 050 351
Email: jeff@refugeetraumarecovery.org.nz
Contact person: Jeff Thomas
The Refugee Trauma Recovery is a New Zealand (Wellington based) organization supporting refugees who may have endured or been exposed to organised violence, torture, harassment, imprisonment, war conditions and civil unrest, escapes, refugee camp life, exile and migration. The organization provides treatment/therapy to refugees who have experienced such traumas. The organisation is also a member of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network.
Address: 40 Sefton Avenue, Grey Lynn
Tel: +64 (0)9 37 64 768
Reunity Trust is a support group for asylum seekers. They offer assistance with accommodation and employment.
Website
Address: Level 2, 39 Webb Street, PO Box 6828, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Tel: +64 (0)4 80 50 340
Fax: +64 (0)4 80 50 301
Each year, the New Zealand government selects 750 refugees for resettlement in the country. Refugee Services is the primary agency helping them to settle and adjust within their new communities. They are concerned with refugee resettlement on three levels: service provision; public and community education; refugee policy and best-practice development.
New Zealand LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in New Zealand.
New Zealand COI
Find New Zealand Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023