The Refugee Alliance exists to create a more just, inclusive, and equitable Aotearoa for former refugee communities.
Our Work
How We Create Change
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Driving systemic change by engaging decision‑makers to reform policies affecting refugee background communities and people and ensure fairer, faster, and more inclusive resettlement.
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Uniting organisations and groups to share knowledge, coordinate action, and build a stronger, more connected refugee support network nationwide.
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Equipping former refugees and community organisations with training and pathways to lead, influence, and drive systems change.
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Amplifying refugee stories through media, events, and campaigns to shift public narratives and shape better policies.
Four Pillars of Impact
Our Four Pillars of Impact reflect the foundation of everything we do.
They are the pathways through which we amplify voices, influence policy, build community leadership, and connect refugee-led organisations across the country.
Advocacy and Policy Influence
We advocate for meaningful, systemic change that improves policies and outcomes for refugees and asylum seekers in Aotearoa.
Our advocacy is grounded in lived experience, evidence, and collaboration. We work directly with ministers, government officials, and partners to ensure refugee issues remain visible and prioritised.
Our impact:
Ongoing engagement with ministers including Casey Costello, Matt Doocey, Erica Stanford, and Melissa Lee to advance reforms on family reunification and equitable access.
Public letters, policy submissions, and advocacy meetings calling for increased family reunification quotas and faster processing times.
Advocacy for equitable access to mental health and settlement services.
Collaboration and Collective Action
We bring together diverse organisations and communities to strengthen refugee sector unity.
Collaboration is central to our impact — through shared research, campaigns, and resource development, we amplify what’s possible when voices unite.
Our impact:
Co-authored the National Refugee Voice Feasibility Report (2024), exploring the creation of a nationwide refugee-led umbrella organisation.
Joint advocacy and public reports with members such as RASNZ, Belong Aotearoa, and the New Zealand Red Cross.
Ongoing cooperation across local and national networks to build shared understanding and action.
Leadership and Capacity Building
We support former refugees and emerging leaders to strengthen their skills, confidence, and influence.
Leadership development ensures the voices shaping policy and practice come directly from those with lived experience.
Our impact:
Leadership and governance training for youth and women from refugee backgrounds.
Capacity-building programs through partner organisations and member collaborations.
Storytelling and skill-building workshops featured across our Blog →.
Visibility and Voice
We amplify the stories, experiences, and strengths of refugees through media, research, and community engagement.
Our storytelling work ensures that the refugee experience is seen, understood, and valued by the wider public.
Our impact:
Media and storytelling campaigns humanising refugee issues and celebrating community resilience.
The National Refugee Voice initiative — a developing umbrella organisation to represent refugee voices at national level.
Public forums, interviews, and awareness events that put lived experience at the centre.
Advocacy
Advocacy is at the heart of The Refugee Alliance’s work.
We advocate for fair and humane policies that uphold refugee rights, strengthen family connections, and promote equity in access to services.
Our Advocacy Plan outlines the goals, strategies, and partnerships driving this mission.
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Family Reunification
We campaign for faster processing and expanded quotas so that families separated by conflict can reunite and rebuild their lives together.
Goal: Increase the family reunification quota from 600 to at least 900 annual placements.
(Source: Advocacy Plan, pp. 3–5) -
Equity of Access
We work to ensure that all refugees — including asylum seekers — have fair access to employment, education, housing, and healthcare.
This includes advocating for culturally responsive mental health services and fair settlement support.
(Source: Advocacy Plan, p. 6; Feasibility Report, pp. 13–26) -
Mental Health and Wellbeing
We call for dedicated, culturally appropriate mental health funding and services designed in partnership with refugee communities.
(Source: Advocacy Plan, p. 6) -
Representation and Voice
We are developing the National Refugee Voice initiative — a refugee-led umbrella body to unify advocacy across the sector and ensure lived experience informs national policy.
(Source: Feasibility Report, pp. 5–7, 38–40)
How We Advocate
Government Engagement: Regular meetings with ministers, opposition MPs, and officials to present refugee-led policy solutions.
Partnership and Research: Collaborative reports and joint advocacy with members and allies.
Media and Public Engagement: Sharing refugee stories through interviews, events, and awareness campaigns.
Advocacy & Government Engagement
Learn about the Refugee Alliance’s ongoing advocacy with government officials and political party spokespeople. Our 2025 Advocacy Plan focuses on key priorities across immigration, mental health, and ethnic community wellbeing, promoting unified action for refugee-background communities in Aotearoa.