New Zealand is a nation built by migration — from Māori voyagers who first settled Aotearoa to Pacific peoples, British settlers, and waves of migrants from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East over recent decades. Supporting migrants to settle well — learn English, find work, build community, access services, and contribute to their new home — is both a humanitarian imperative and an economic investment. A range of funders supports this work.
New Zealand's migrant population is diverse:
- Skilled migrants: recruited for specific skills shortages
- Family reunification: joining New Zealand-based family members
- Refugees and humanitarian entrants: including quota refugees, asylum seekers, and those on humanitarian visas
- International students (transitioning to residency): significant pathway to residence
- Pacific peoples: special categories for Pacific migration
Settlement challenges vary significantly by migrant category — refugees often have the most complex needs; skilled migrants may need connection and credential recognition more than basic support.
Immigration New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) manages visa and residency policy but has limited direct settlement support funding. Its focus is on selection and compliance, not settlement.
MBIE Settlement Division
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment manages settlement policy and funds settlement support:
- Refugee Settlement Support (for quota refugees)
- Migrant settlement services contracts
- English language in the workplace programmes
- Settlement information and integration resources
New Zealand Red Cross
Red Cross provides settlement support for convention refugees — intensive, comprehensive settlement case management funded through MBIE.
English language learning is fundamental to successful settlement:
ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
Workplace English
Some employers and industry bodies access grants for workplace language programmes.
Community English
Community ESOL programmes — often volunteer-tutored, delivered through churches, community centres, and libraries — supplement government-funded provision.
Refugees have more complex settlement needs than economic migrants:
- Trauma and mental health support
- Intensive English language
- Work experience and credential recognition
- Social connection in unfamiliar communities
Resettlement services
MBIE contracts specialist organisations (Red Cross, Refugee Council, regional partners) for quota refugee resettlement — intensive support for the first year.
Refugee Welcome Centres
Community-based refugee welcome services in major centres — funded through government contracts and philanthropy.
Community-sponsored refugee programme
New Zealand's Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship (CORS) programme involves community groups sponsoring refugee families — with some government support and significant community fundraising.
Lotteries Community
Lotteries grants fund migrant and refugee community organisations — multicultural associations, settlement support services.
Gaming trusts
Gaming trusts fund migrant community organisations' operations — particularly equipment and facilities.
Foundation North
Foundation North has funded settlement support and multicultural community organisations in Auckland and Northland.
Community foundations
Local community foundations fund local migrant settlement services — particularly in areas with significant new migrant populations.
The J.R. McKenzie Trust
J.R. McKenzie has funded some migration and settlement initiatives — particularly relating to children and youth.
Orientation and navigation
Employment support
Community connection
Children and family
Health and wellbeing
Language access: settlement services must operate in multiple languages — single-language (English-only) services exclude those who most need support.
Cultural appropriateness: effective settlement support is culturally responsive — understanding specific communities' values, family structures, and community dynamics.
Precarious legal status: asylum seekers and those with temporary visas have precarious legal status that creates significant anxiety and can limit engagement with services.
Geographic dispersal: as New Zealand encourages migrants to settle beyond Auckland, settlement services must reach smaller centres with fewer established migrant community organisations.
Tahua's grants management platform supports settlement and integration funders — with multilingual application handling, community organisation profiles, outcome tracking for settlement indicators (employment, English language, community connection), and the tools that help funders build effective investment in migrant and refugee integration.