Hon Lianne Dalziel
Minister of Commerce, Minister for Small Business,
Minister of Women’s Affairs, MP for Christchurch East

16 June 2007 Speech Notes

Speech for UNHCR World Refugee Day

Christchurch Polytechnic Atrium
Madras Street
Christchurch
11am

Thanks for the opportunity to say a few words as we recognise World Refugee Day, which we're celebrating a few days early here in Christchurch.

New Zealand's response to the needs of refugees reminds us that we have the capacity for goodness and kindness in a world that is not always good and not always kind. New Zealand's commitment to welcoming refugees is part of our identity as a nation – it illustrates our humanity, our generosity, our sense of justice.

The focus of this year's UNHCR Refugee Day is "the voice of refugee youth". This is about getting our own young people tuned into the experiences and daily lives of refugee children – to start a dialogue between youth around the world about the problems facing refugee children.

It is in that context that I am particularly delighted to meet the young woman who is to speak next. Latifa Afzali's cousin was one a group who became known as the Tampa refugees.

New Zealand's willingness to play a circuit-breaker role in that event will always remain in my memory as one of the proudest days in the time that I was privileged to serve as Minister of Immigration. The exceptional leadership that Helen Clark showed will always be a part of that memory.

I am therefore particularly pleased to meet Latifa, who has been here with the rest of her family for two years now and, as you can see, is a poised and gracious young woman with a great future before her. I'm aware she is determined to prove that her parents' decision to take the huge step of coming to a country so far away, both in distance and in terms of language and culture, was the right decision. This is something that all parents care about – to know that they have done the right thing for their children.

It is truly satisfying to put a human face to what was an inhuman tragedy and to see the good that can come of standing up for what is right.

New Zealand has been part of the UNHCR refugee resettlement programme for over 30 years and we have resettled more than 20,000 refugees representing over 40 nationalities. We are one of only 17 countries in the world that has formally signed up to the UNHCR programme; a record of which we can be particularly proud.

But it goes both ways. Most refugees are determined to make a lasting contribution to their new country, and are highly motivated to do so, as Latifa and her family demonstrate.

May I end by thanking and acknowledging the work of RMS. You may be aware that tomorrow marks the beginning of Volunteer Awareness Week. This is a nation-wide initiative where government, business and communities come together to celebrate and say a huge "thank you" for the excellent work volunteers and voluntary organisations do.

Volunteering is a part of Kiwi life – it is a part of our identity as a nation. Volunteers contribute to our sense of well-being – and it's well known that being a volunteer can contribute greatly to an individual's own sense of well-being. Certainly RMS and other refugee resettlement services make a huge difference to the well-being of our refugee community who are an important part of our diverse city.

Thank you for what you do on behalf of us all.

ENDS

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