Mayors back increase in refugee numbers

PETITION: Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown wants Wairarapa support for a rise in refugee numbers.

Wairarapa mayors have shown their support for an eventual increase in New Zealand's annual refugee quota from 750 to 1500.

Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson and Carterton Mayor John Booth have supported a petition from Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, which requests that the annual refugee intake be doubled over the next five years.

In what has become the largest wave of displaced people since World War II, Mr Booth said he was happy to support the petition.

He also said it was important to ensure that on-going support for refugees was provided, including language and training assistance to help integrate them into society.

"I think what has been requested is a feasible approach and a balanced way of doing it," he said.

"Celia is wanting to make the change increase over a period of five years and it is a change increase that New Zealand can definitely sustain.

"People do get a little scared as to what kinds of people the refugees may be, what with all of the stuff on the news, but I'm confident in our Government's screening process.

"At the end of the day, we have all been young families, and this is what a majority of refugees are.

"I saw that picture of the Syrian boy that had died and I think you'd have to be a cold-hearted person if that didn't pull at the heart strings."

Mr Booth said it was interesting that the quota of taking in 750 refugees per year had been unchanged for almost 30 years.

"Celia's petition asks for an increase of the annual refugee quota from 750 to 1500 over a period of five years.

"This quota of 750 is the same quota as in 1987. Our population and means have increased since then, so it makes sense to have a change."

South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples said that "the refugee situation is not as straight forward as simply upping the quota".

Wellington City's Deputy Mayor Justin Lester, who is leading the work with Ms Wade-Brown on the refugee increase request, said a larger quota would benefit the whole Wellington region if smart steps were taken to integrate the refugees into society.

"Reintegration back into a new community is extremely difficult," he said.

"People often come from various circumstances, often conflict areas, or have been taken away from their families, but this increase can only be beneficial.

"You've seen it in the past. In Wellington we host a lot of refugees " around 200 to 250 per annum, and they add and contribute to society, and give us a cultural understanding and awareness, making our country much stronger and richer."

Mr Lester said that government's announcement on Monday to take an additional 600 Syrian refugees over the next 2 years was a good starting point.

"It's a great example of what can be achieved when the New Zealand public unite in support of an important issue."

The annual refugee quota will be reviewed next year.