A recent meeting between Bishop Anashuya Fletcher and the Associate Minister of Immigration, Hon Casey Costello, was a wonderful opportunity to share the stories of newly arrived Kiwi’s and the support they’ve received by Anglican parishes and community groups.  

Bishop Ana came to the meeting with two women who came to New Zealand as part of the Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship programme.  

The Diocese has supported this programme through the sponsorship of several people and a family. Two mission units, Urban Vision Cannon’s Creek and Journey Christian Fellowship have taken a lead role under the programme.  

See News for our Movement’s earlier article on this. 

However, the CORS programme is a pilot and no decision has been made on its future. So, the meeting the Associate Minister was an opportunity to express our positive experience with the programme and our hope that the Government would make it permanent. This is in addition to our. When complete, the current pilot will have welcomed a total of 200 extra people in addition New Zealand’s existing 1,500 refugee quota commitment. 

The delegation was very well received by the Minister, and they had a very positive conversation. The minister said that any decisions for the ongoing delivery of the programme were likely to be made for the 2025 year. 

Bishop Ana believes it was a helpful meeting. 

“It demonstrated the commitment of the church to being agents of good.  

“The Minister also heard  about the positive impact programmes like these can make,” she said.  

The women said how comfortable the Minister made them feel. 

“We were welcomed – she was very friendly, they way she wanted to learn about us, our life in the community and who we were.  

“It felt like a conversation between friends,” they said.   

“I was encouraged to see how the minister treated me as a valued part of the community. I felt at home.  

“It was an honour to meet the Minister and to express my gratitude and to be able to share my story face to face. I feel safe, loved and at home. This sense of belonging and the support from the community encouraged me to look forward to contributing positively to my community and to the society at large. 

Speaking about the programme, they said, “I wish for many more people to have this opportunity because it creates hope and contributes to the economy of New Zealand. We want to contribute to the development of New Zealand, and I expect there are others who can also make a difference.” 

Persis Pacifique from Journey Christian Fellowship was at the meeting and commented how good it was to meet the Minister in person.  

“We were able to describe the importance of the programme and our desire for it to keep on going.  

“We hope the Minister decides to continue the programme.” 

ENDS