Refuge NZ

Explore the compelling narrative of displacement and resilience in 'Refuge New Zealand.' This insightful paperback, authored by Ann Beaglehole, delves into the complex history of refugees and asylum seekers in New Zealand from a diverse cultural perspective. Spanning 263 pages, this book illuminates the struggles faced by those escaping war, persecution, and discrimination due to their ethnicity, religion, and political beliefs. Since 1840, New Zealand has opened its doors to countless individuals seeking safety and a new beginning. Discover which groups have found refuge and those who have been excluded, navigating the intricate policies that have shaped New Zealand's refugee immigration landscape. 'Refuge New Zealand' critically examines the selection criteria for refugee migrants, emphasizing the desire for social cohesion and the often subtle biases in public policy. The book also highlights the often overlooked experiences of Maori who have faced their own refugee-like conditions due to historical injustices. With its historical context, this book is essential for anyone interested in human rights, migration studies, and the evolution of New Zealand's society. The dimensions of this book are 150 x 230 mm and it was published on November 20, 2013, making it a vital addition to your reading collection. Uncover the intricate layers of New Zealand’s humanitarian legacy and the ongoing narratives of refuge within these pages.

Author: Ann Beaglehole Publisher: Otago University Press
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 150 x 230 mm
Pages: 263
Publication Date: 20-11-2013

Unlike people who choose to migrate in search of new opportunities, refugees are compelled to leave their homeland. Typically, they are escaping war and persecution because of their ethnicity, their religion or their political beliefs. Since 1840, New Zealand has given refuge to thousands of people from Europe, South America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Refuge New Zealand examines New Zealand's response to refugees and asylum seekers in an historical context. Which groups and categories have been chosen, and why? Who has been kept out and why? How has public policy governing refugee immigration changed over time?

Aspects of New Zealand's response to refugees and asylum seekers considered in the book include: the careful selection of refugee settlers to ensure they will 'fit in'; the preference for 'people like us' and the exclusion of so-called 'race aliens'; the desire for children, especially orphans; responses to the increasing diversity of refugee intakes; the balance between humanitarian, economic and political considerations; and the refugee-like situation of Maori.

As the book also shows, refugees and asylum seekers from overseas have not been the country's only refugees. War, land confiscations and European settlement had made refugees of Maori in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, with displacement and land loss contributing to subsequent Maori social and economic deprivation.