Cr Aaron Hawkins, a Green Party city councillor, yesterday called for a doubling of New Zealand’s present refugee quota, to 1500 per year. Contacted by the Otago Daily Times, he said Dunedin — like other resettlement centres — could accommodate more of those in need.
His comments came amid chaotic scenes in major US airports after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting travel from seven Muslim majority countries to the US.
The order, which temporarily banned approved refugees, also blocked Syrian refugees indefinitely and placed a 90-day freeze on new arrivals from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia.
The order was already facing legal challenges, which included a federal judge’s stay on the deportation of new arrivals with valid green cards.
However, Cr Hawkins said Dunedin and New Zealand should do more to help refugees and send a message to the Trump administration.
"The executive order in itself is as terrifying as it is inhumane. The attitude of the United States regime needs to be roundly condemned with words and with action, and this is a way we can do both," he said.
Dunedin last year became New Zealand’s newest centre for refugee resettlement after being selected in 2015 to host up to 150 Syrian refugees a year.
Dunedin’s selection came as the Government approved an emergency intake of 750 Syrian refugees, spread over three years, on top of an annual quota of 750 a year, a figure unchanged since its introduction in 1976.
Last year, the Government announced it would raising the refugee intake to 1000 a year, despite Immigration New Zealand confirming there was capacity for 1500 if funding for community services was increased.
Labour, the Green Party and United Future, backed by a 20,000-signature petition, have all pushed for the higher figure. Cr Hawkins said raising the quota would be an "easy" way for New Zealand to help, and Dunedin had the potential to play its part.
"In the grand scheme of things, what is 750 people a year? Well, it is a drop in the bucket, but it means an awful lot to those 750 people to have somewhere safe to live."
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull could not be reached for comment yesterday.
A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse, a Dunedin-based list MP, would only say "a lot has happened" over the weekend, but the Government’s plan to raise the refugee quota to 1000 from next year remained unchanged.
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How about Cr Aaron Hawkins wakes up from his dream of climbing the Green's party ladder first, looks around Dunedin looking after Dunedin's current population first before opening his mouth to try and gain brownie points with the Greens party. I challenge Cr Aaron Hawkins to park up in the Park n Save / ware house carpark for an hour and observe Dunedin's current population suffering and in need first.
Cr Aaron Hawkins, a Green Party city councilor asks "In the grand scheme of things, what is 750 people/refugees a year?
Well it means 750 extra people/refugees competing against Kiwi's for jobs,it means 750 extra people/refugees needing houses,it means 750 extra people/refugees existing on welfare, It means 750 extra people/refugees sucking up hospital services, it means 750 extra people/refugees trying to settle in to the Kiwi way of life, it means 750 extra people/refugees competing for what little services we have here. NZ cant even properly look after our own let alone flooding the country with immigrants.
Agree 100% we do need to do our bit on the international stage. Dunedin and other Councils around New Zealand need to wake up. With our getting into Government these shady Greens are applying policy at the council level, before we know it they will have wreaked New Zealand.
Suffering in the Park up Warehouse Park.
Reasons
It is no longer the Caledonian Ground.
Low bollards separate carpark from walkway. Trip, followed by suffer.
People barbecue on Saturdays. Talk about suffer the aroma of cooking.
My point is, is this the only suffering location in Dunedin, and how do you know they're suffering?
Not saying its the only suffering place in Dunedin but its a starting point to gauge, Using my life experience. When you see a person dressed in a greasy brown jacket, brown trousers, greasy long hair dirty skin they looked like they have never showered in the last 6 months and if you washed there clothes they would be water proof and break your washing machine. You know he hasn't just finished work because its a Sunday night You kind of feel sorry for the person. Plus When you see a young guy push a wheel chair, pulling a large yard trolley (Amercian Style but bigger) with pallet sides and a baby in the trolley. When you see people looking in the bins. you kind of gather that people are suffering and could do with Employment.
Dunedin is suffering, it's sinking. You can't say that's good.
I agree with what you say. However, there are reasons people have dirty clothes and search bins, which are often unrelated to employment. The unusually high cost of living, per capita, the anti smoking campaign now an economic issue, etc. Any changes would be from Central govt, not local. So far, the Syrian refugees have been skilled or employable.
Some of my points are 'diablo advokaat', not the kind of entity I would bat for. You have a good heart.
One of my Points 'Central Goverment' !! Cr Aaron Hawkins should be sticking to Council business and not Government which proves he and others linked to political parties are not in council for the betterment of Dunedin. They have a plan and are using Dunedin as a climbing ladder and to feather there own nest.I agree Syrian refugees have been skilled or employable and are welcome, but we need to look after our own first.
But they say its a rock star economy some are lost we have more now than ever .wheres all the jobs people are able to do .what happens is they send people to jobs unsuitable for them.