Settlement Support New Zealand - Auckland City. November newsletter

1. Updates from Settlement Support New Zealand – Auckland City
Auckland International Carnival
The Auckland International Carnival was held on the 6
th
and 7
th
November at the Ellerslie
Racecourse. The parade, excellent performances, and the variety of stalls gave the day a true
carnival atmosphere. ARMS had a stall at the Carnival - thanks to all who visited us! You can
check out the photos on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ssnzakl and you can
read more about the event on http://aucklandinternationalcarnival.co.nz/.
Client and Service Providers Enquiries
230 people visited SSNZ Auckland City/ARMS Three Kings during October 2010, and 200 of
them were first time clients. About 1/3 of the clients contacted SSNZ Auckland about finding
employment, approximately 10% wanted to find out more about learning English, and 10%
wanted information about cultural/community matters.
The majority of our clients in October were from China (23%), India (16%) and Sir Lanka (8%). Many of them have permanent residence in New
Zealand, 24% were family members of skilled migrants, and 19% were skilled migrants. 11% had work permits, 5% were on work-to-residence
permits, and 9% were on student visas.
37% of the clients had been in New Zealand less than 2 years, with 12% having been here longer than 2 years and 33% more than 5 years.
There were 9 service provider to service provider referrals from five service providers, related to cultural/community, health services and
education.
Regional Settlement Network Meeting and Annual Public Meeting
You are warmly invited to the Regional Settlement Network Meeting and Auckland Regional Migrant Services Annual Public Meeting, to be
held on the 23
rd
November 2010, at the Te Mahurehure Marae Conference Room, 65-75 Premier Avenue, Pt Chevalier.
Afternoon Tea will be provided and the venue - Te Mahurehure Marae in Point Chevalier- has ample parking onsite.
Please click on this link for the programme and agenda http://www.arms-mrc.org.nz/NewsAndEvents.aspx#News48
Please click on this link for the map http://www.arms-mrc.org.nz/doc/news/news48_Map.jpg
To RSVP, please email communications@arms-mrc.org.nz or call Shoma Prasad on 09 625 3095.
Whiringa ā rangi (November) 2010/Issue 24
Bevan Chuang,
Settlement Support
Coordinator –
Auckland City
Kei te pēhea koutou? How are you all? Welcome to the twenty-fourth
Settlement Support New Zealand—Auckland City Newsletter.
The purpose of this newsletter is to provide you with information about what
Settlement Support – Auckland City does, and where you can find information
about employment, education, health services and many other aspects of
settling in New Zealand. This is also an opportunity to share with you the
services and activities available around Auckland City.
Please feel free to pass on this newsletter onto friends, family and community
colleagues.
Settlement Support New Zealand
Auckland City – Tāmaki-makau-rau
Haere koe I te ara a taihoa, ki a tae ai koe ki aua atu. (‘Travel o nthe pathway of by
and by, so that you may reach goodness knows where.’ Accept what the future offers)
Haere Mai, Nau Mai, Haere Mai

2. Updates from Department of Labour
Immigration Act 2009
The Immigration Act 2009 comes into effect from 29 November 2010. Until then the Immigration Act 1987 applies. The new Act
modernises New Zealand’s immigration laws. However, it does not make major changes to the criteria under which people apply to travel
to and stay in New Zealand. Some key changes include:
Terminology Changes
The new Act uses the single term ‘visa’ for authority to travel to and stay in New Zealand. The terms ‘permit’ and ‘exemption’ will no longer
be used.
The terms ‘residence permits’, ‘residence visas’ and ‘returning resident’s visas’ will be replaced by ‘resident visas’ and ‘permanent resident
visas’ – but there is no change to existing categories or criteria for people wishing to settle in New Zealand.
New Sponsorship System
Sponsors of people coming to New Zealand will be responsible for all aspects of maintenance, accommodation and repatriation (or
deportation) of the sponsored person. More specific criteria for sponsors will be in place for the whole time the person in New Zealand. For
resident visas, this obligation will be in place for a specific period.
Another change allows organisations (companies, charitable trusts and societies) and government agencies to sponsor individuals in some
circumstances. These new categories of sponsors will be eligible to support visitor visas and also work-to-residence and residence-from-
work visas under the ‘talent’ category (arts, culture and sports).
Refugees
The 2009 Act retains New Zealand’s commitment to the United Nations 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967
Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.
In addition, the Act incorporates the New Zealand’s immigration-related obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Torture
(CAT) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This means ‘protected person’ claims under the CAT and ICCPR will be
determined alongside refugee status claims.
There are also new provisions to manage potential abuses of New Zealand’s asylum process. These include declining to consider refugee
status claims from people who create grounds for their claim by acting other than in good faith. Individuals may appeal this decision.
Employer Obligations
The 2009 Act narrows the ‘reasonable excuse’ defence for employing a foreign national not entitled to work in New Zealand. Employers will
therefore need to check work entitlement more carefully than previously. To help speed up the employment process, the Department of
Labour has set up an online system – called VisaView – to allow employers to check a job applicant’s entitlement to work and any
conditions. The system is designed to be quick and easy to use, and to protect individual privacy.
Education
The 2009 Act increases penalties against education providers who fail to comply with their immigration obligations. However, providers of
compulsory education will not be prosecuted for enrolling a child who is unlawfully in New Zealand.
Interim Visas
The 2009 Act will introduce a new ‘interim visa’. These may be granted if a foreign national has applied for a further temporary visa. This
will maintain the individual’s lawful status in New Zealand while his or her application is being considered. This provision is due to come
into effect in early 2011.
To see other key changes and for further details, see www.immigration.govt.nz/act or email actreview@dol.govt.nz.
Changes to Fees and Levies
On 29 November 2010, many of Immigration New Zealand’s fees and migrant levies will change as a result of the 2010 fees review, and to
reflect the introduction of the Immigration Act 2009. Immigration fees and levies are reviewed regularly to ensure they cover the cost of
delivering immigration services. For further information visit: http://bit.ly/bmZNlB
Applicants who lodge applications on or after 29 November 2010 will need to submit the correct fee at the time the application is lodged.

3. CAB Language Link: case study
One of our clients landed in New Zealand a year ago and rented a property in Auckland. When he felt confident to rent
a better property, he contacted his property manager who had always been really good to him and the property
manager gladly agreed to end the contract. He was about to terminate the tenancy by signing the bond refund form
when he noticed that the form did not show the amount of money he was going to get back from the Bond Centre. He
contacted the property manager who asked for a large sum of money as compensation for damage to the kitchen floor
and toilets and for outstanding water rates. The client agreed to pay the water rates but did not accept the other
charges and did not sign the form. As a result the client received a summons to the Tenancy Tribunal. The client was
confounded and his friends said he had no choice but to pay to stay out of trouble.
The client came to know about CAB Language Link through a radio programme in his own language and contacted CAB
Language Link. He was relieved to discuss his issues with someone who knew about tenancy laws and could speak his
own language. He was advised by CAB Language Link to get a breakdown of the costs from the property manager. The
property manager refused to give it in writing and asked him to meet at the court. Our experienced interviewer
advised the client to collect as much evidence as he could and get a quote for repairing the kitchen floor. Our
interviewer wrote a letter to the Tenancy Tribunal based on the description given by the client. We highlighted that
the house was old, the kitchen floor was already damaged from the beginning of the tenancy, and there was no
damage in the toilets. The house was cleaned regularly and our client hired a professional cleaner before leaving.
Moreover, we found that regular inspection was carried out by the property manager and there was never a single
negative comment. The hearing went well and our client paid only a small amount as compensation for the damaged
floor of the kitchen.
For Information, advice, advocacy and interpretation in 26 different languages please contact CAB Language Link
CABLL is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
Address: 521d Mt. Albert Road, Three Kings, Auckland
Phone: 624 2550 (Auckland) and 0800 78 88 77 (Nationwide)
Website: www.cab.org.nz/acabnearyou/languagelink
Email: language@cab.org.nz
This service is delivered in 26 different languages

4. What’s Coming Up?
Workshops
*All free and conducted in English unless otherwise stated.
Job Search Workshop
1st
and 16th
November, 9.30am—3.00pm
Workshop to assist with your job search. Held in conjunction with Career Services and the
Auckland Chamber of Commerce and other agencies.
Legal Clinics
Fridays, 9.30am—12.00pm
Heval Hylan, Principal of Hylan Law Barrister & Solicitor, will be providing free 10-minutes legal
advice on immigration, family law, contract, trusts and other areas of law in general.
Personal Tax Seminar and Redundancy Tax Credits
Saturday 13th
November, 9.00am – 12.30pm
Do you need to understand how to read tax summaries and do tax returns? DO you need to
know about Working with Families Tax credit system? Do you know about KiwiSaver? Do you
know what you can claim as tax credit from Inland Revenue? Are you eligible for Independent
Earner tax credit? Are you paying the right taxes, do you know to calculate this? Are you aware
of tax credits on redundancy payments?
Pronunciation Guidance Course
Saturdays, 20th
, 27th
November; 4th
, 11th
and 18th
December, 4.00pm – 6.00m
A 5 week course; $195 per person, includes course materials. Are you needing to
improve the clarity and fluency of your spoken English and identify the sounds that you
mispronounce? This course will provide you with the tools you need to assist you in identifying
the English sounds that are most difficult for you and make yourself better understood in a kiwi
environment.
Treaty of Waitangi
Saturday 27th
November, 9.30am – 2.30pm
Learn more about the history of New Zealand. Find out what the Treaty of Waitangi means for
you as a new New Zealander. Learn how to respond to questions about the Treaty in job
interviews. All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation at the end of the workshop.
Accounting Workshop
Monday 29th
November, 9.30am – 2.30pm
Learn about the New Zealand employer’s perspective on accounting skills and the recruitment
and interview process.
For more information or to register contact ARMS on 09 625 2440 or reception@arms-mrc.org.nz.
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