Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced yesterday the city had been chosen as the latest settlement location following a ``whole of Government assessment''.
At the moment there are a total of six settlement locations in New Zealand where quota refugees are settled after they had completed a six week reception programme at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre; Auckland region, Waikato, Manawatu, Wellington region, Nelson and Dunedin.
Venture Southland business project manager Robin McNeill said gaining refugee settlement status was the latest in a series of positive developments for Invercargill and Southland.
``It's good for the Southland economy, it's good for Southland culture and it's good for the refugees - it's good for everyone,'' Mr McNeill said.
Gaining more refugees would clearly be positive for the Southland economy and would also benefit other Invercargill citizens by further adding to the city's ethnic diversity and vibrancy.
Invercargill already had one of the highest employment participation rates in the country and the city and Southland had long been ``flying under the radar''.
The city had been on ``a little bit of a buzz'' economically for some time, and many
more workers were needed to meet future economic growth needs in the South, he said.
INZ general manager Steve McGill said Invercargill was considered alongside Christchurch, New Plymouth, Rotorua and Tauranga.
Invercargill edged out the others because of the broad range of employment opportunities in the area.
``Invercargill also has a strong set of services and is a well-connected city where a number of government agencies have a presence.
``Suitable housing is available and there is excellent support from the community.''
Details were still being worked out, but it was expected the first group of refugees would arrive in Invercargill later this year.
Mr McGill said an extra settlement location was needed because of the recent increase to the refugee quota and the decreasing proportion of refugee families settled in Auckland.
Only quota refugees with relatives already living in the Auckland region were now settled there.
New Zealand Red Cross, which is the primary provider of refugee resettlement programmes, yesterday welcomed the addition of Invercargill.
``We've just celebrated the first year of Dunedin being a resettlement location which has been hugely successful and I look forward to the community banding together to provide a similar welcome in Invercargill,'' acting secretary-general Anne Smith said.
