How well migrants integrate or settle in a new country is of interest to all migrant-receiving countries and, in recent years, many such nations have designed policy interventions, programmes and activities to support good settlement outcomes. To date, however, very little research exists internationally about indicators of good settlement. This is the second report of a significant settlement research project that aims to identify and measure indicators for the systematic approach that the New Zealand Government has implemented. This approach aims to strengthen settlement outcomes for new migrants and refugees who have come to live and work in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Settlement Strategy (NZSS) is an integrated framework that focuses on proactively supporting newcomers to New Zealand through the challenges of settlement so they can take up opportunities and make a positive economic and social contribution to New Zealand. The Settlement National Action Plan (SNAP) sets out what will be done at a national level under each of the NZSS high-level goals.
The development of the Settlement Knowledge Base (SKB) is part of SNAP. The aim of the SKB project is to build an improved understanding of settlement outcomes for newcomers to New Zealand across central government agencies through a work programme which:
(a) identifies outcome-related measures and indicators at a range of levels;
(b) maps the knowledge base and identifies research gaps; and
(c) compiles evidence on ‘what works for whom and why’ in the settlement domain.
Key Results
Summary of baseline findings
Key information on newcomer settlement outcomes includes the following:
· Half of New Zealanders are positive about New Zealand being home to an increasing number of people with different lifestyles and cultures from different countries, while only a small percent feel it makes New Zealand a worse place to live.
· Labour market participation and income levels for newcomers varies markedly depending on the number of years they have lived in New Zealand, their birthplace and the migrant category under which they entered New Zealand.
· One specific group of newcomers, skilled migrants, have a very high employment rate. However, underemployment and work discrimination are issues for a small number of newcomers.
· Most newcomers do not report any difficulties finding work in New Zealand.
· Most people can converse in English, with only a very small proportion of people unable to do so. An increasing number of people are multi-lingual.
· Newcomers can and do access a number of services which provide them with information and guidance. The most common requests are for information relating to employment, immigration, taxation and learning English.
· Membership and involvement in social groups/networks is common for newcomers, with fifty percent of permanent residents and two-thirds of skilled migrants involved in at least one social group/network.
· Most permanent residents feel safe or very safe and have not experienced discrimination.
· The participation rate of overseas-born people undertaking unpaid work is similar to that of New Zealand-born.