Pōwhiri held for former refugee community
11/09/2023 2:45pm
Members of Nelson’s former refugee community were welcomed onto Whakatū Marae last week, Wednesday 6 September, by Kaumātua Luke Katu, Jane du Feu, and Melanie McGregor.
Around 90 former refugees from Colombia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar attended the ceremony. The group was joined by members of English Language Partners, New Zealand Red Cross, Multicultural Nelson Tasman, New Zealand Police and Nelson City Council.
The day began with a Pōwhiri at Whakatū Marae, followed by kai whakanoa (shared morning tea) and stories about the history of Kākati wharenui (main house).
Nelson has been a refugee resettlement location for 16 years, and around 1,800 former refugees and their families now call the area ‘home’.
The journey to get here, though, is a difficult one. For many, it begins with extraordinary hardship—war, persecution, discrimination, racism, oppression—that causes individuals and families to flee their homelands.
Support for former refugees resettling in Nelson starts as soon as they arrive, with New Zealand Red Cross staff and volunteers greeting them at the airport.
Ongoing support to individuals and families includes help with securing housing and accessing healthcare, banking, English language classes, and employment.
Nau mai, haere mai – we welcome you to your new home here in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
