Anglican Movement parishes continue the awesome mahi of setting up houses to resettle former refugees.  

In 2023/24 June year, our people supported 28 arriving households comprising 108 individuals.  That’s an increase of 25% on the 2023 year when we supported 22 arriving households made up of 85 individuals.   

Our role is to support the Red Cross, who in Wellington are the Government’s contracted partner to support incoming refugee families.  We set up the house with everything the incoming family needs and turn the house into a home. While the Red Cross works finds rental accommodation for the incoming families, all the furniture and major whiteware, and provides personal support, through a volunteer, for six months or more.   

Resettlement Coordinator Phil McCarthy says, “Household sizes have ranged from single person households to an extended family of nine!   

“Families were settled throughout Wellington City and the Hutt Valley and a smaller number in Porirua.   

“While we are not told the national or ethnic identity of any specific family we support but we do have a general sense of the origins of those coming to Wellington.  For the year beginning June 2024, and in rough order of community size, we currently expect arrivals to Wellington from Syria, Iran, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Iraq. 

Phil says it wouldn’t have been possible without the great group of parish and mission unit volunteers.  

“Currently, there are around 20-25 parishes actively involved, and up to three Anglican schools.  We are blessed also by Port Nicholson Rotary, who regularly provide significant contributions to our pantry packs,” he said.  

There are different ways parishes can get involved.    

Some parishes do house collections, others house set-ups; some do both.  While some parishes support multiple house setups a year, others less so.  

Phil says to get in touch if your parish wants to get involved. Whether it’s a physical house setup, donating goods or making a financial contribution*, it all counts.  

Reach Phil on refugees@anglicanmovement.nz. 

*The Diocesan account number for the former refugee house setup programme is 01-0535-0089638-28. Please put ‘Refugee’ in the reference field.