Murdoch Stephens from the Doing Our Bit campaign to double New Zealand’s refugee quota answers,

how can I help?

Written by Murdoch Stephens. First edition published in 2016 in Aotearoa/New Zealand. www.doingourbit.co.nz “Double the quota; Double the funding” Printed and Bound with assistance from Rebel Press in Wellington and in association with our friends at Lawrence & Gibson publishing. ISBN 978-0-473-34906-6

Cover image: A young Syrian migrant girl is held by her mother next to railroad tracks where migrants wait to cross into Macedonia Sept. 2, in Idomeni, Greece. The number of people leaving their homes in war torn countries such as Syria, marks the largest migration of people since World War II. (Win McNamee/Getty Images).

First off,

thanks for asking. This booklet answers what sounds like an easy question “how can I help?” with a lot of practical advice. We’ll be answering the related questions “but what can I do?” and “where to next?” as well as countering some of the bad arguments and myths about refugees.

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Second off,

we need your help! The government is reviewing the refugee quota right now. Immigration NZ present their review to Ministers in late February 2016. They will then consider their options and send a recommendation to Cabinet. If Cabinet make a quick decision, they might announce the result of the review as early as mid-March. But if they take their time, it could be as late as June or July. Either way, we need to show our support for the first increase in almost three decades as soon as possible. 4

Third: who is this “we”?

We are the majority. In July 2015, a Colmar Brunton survey showed 53% of New Zealanders supported increasing the refugee quota. This was before the crisis made headlines in September. In October 2015, Research New Zealand asked about the emergency intake announced in September. Their director, Emanuel Kalafatelis concluded: “These results not only show significant public support for the increase in refugee numbers announced by the government, but support that New Zealand accepts more than the additional 600.”

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Doing Our Bit is... a campaign to double New Zealand’s refugee quota and funding. We launched on World Refugee Day, 20 June, 2013 and have been campaigning ever since. The campaign is led by Murdoch Stephens, who is supported by a small volunteer team based in Wellington. We’ve got supporters throughout New Zealand and look forward to meeting more of you!

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We’re open and transparent about our limited funding (see p. 74) and we receive no money from government or political parties, nor are we aligned to any party. We’re happy to meet, talk and work with any group that shares our goals.

The Situation

NZ’s refugee quota has not grown since 1987.

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NZ’s refugee quota has not increased since 1987. Our population has grown by 42% since then. Refugees wait an average of 17 years before being resettled via the quota system. The process is slow and rigorous: 1. People must travel to a recognised refugee centre and have their claim accepted by the United Nations. 2. Immigration NZ sends officers to interview them. 3. Personal details and biometric data are matched against the Five Eyes databases. 4. Only then are refugees eligible to immigrate to NZ.

Over in Australia... Compare New Zealand’s support for quota refugees with Australia’s. Their current government accepts 13,500 people through their quota, and that will grow to 18,750 by 2018. There is significant political support from other parties to make it 27,000. So, per capita, Australia currently takes more than three times as many quota refugees and asylum seekers as New Zealand, and that will increase to four times more unless our own quota grows. We can’t defend their policy of mandatory detention for asylum seekers arriving by boat. But if New Zealand did our fair share, less people would have to take those risks.

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But that’s not all... Refugees are also accepted into our country as asylum seekers. That is when people claim protection from within New Zealand. On average, we accept only a third of all claims. But, since 2001, the New Zealand government has worked with other governments to make it harder for asylum seekers to make a claim. That has led to a 75% reduction (a decrease of 373 people per year) in the number of asylum seekers that we accept as refugees. Again, not only has our quota gone down, the overall number of refugees we accept annually has also 10 decreased since 2000. This needs to be set right - by doubling the quota.

Here’s the math... We’re taking the 1987 quota as our starting point 800 Add 42% of 800 (population growth since then) 336 Add back in the number of asylum seekers we used to accept per year

373

And the quota for 2016 should be

1509 11

On top of that... The world is facing the worst refugee crisis since World War Two (which was when the legal framework for recognising people as refugees was established). More than 60 million people are displaced, and 20 million of those are refugees (ie they are displaced and outside their country of origin). Over the next three years New Zealand will offer an additional 750 places for Syrian people. So that means just 250 places in 2016. Over the same period Australia is offering 12,000 places - that’s 9.6 times as many. Canada has offered 50,000 places: when adjusted for 12 their larger population they’re doing 25 times as much for Syrians fleeing their civil war as we are.

So... Doubling the quota will not make New Zealand a world leader in hosting, recognising or resettling refugees. But will we be doing our bit? Well, no, not really. If the quota is doubled by 2019 we’ll still be doing half as much, per capita, as Australia. But it’s better than doing only a quarter as much as them. New Zealand needs to at least double the quota at the forthcoming review. That’s our target: we need to achieve that, implement the changes well, and then move from there.

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That’s the situation While the world experiences its worst refugee crisis in decades, the New Zealand government sticks to a tiny refugee quota that no humanitarian nation could defend. Our tiny quota is a national shame. Doubling the quota represents a sensible, moderate increase that can be implemented with few problems, as long as its properly resourced. So that’s why we need to double the funding for our refugee service providers at the same time. And finally, we want every quota review to take into consideration population growth since the last increase. 14 Let’s make sure we don’t need to repeat this campaign every decade.

...that’s how we see it. But, there are always people who disagree. Over the next few pages we deal with some of the arguments against doubling the quota. We also answer some myths about New Zealand’s refugee policy and our place in the world. Try to not fall into the ‘refugees are angels/heroes’ flipside of the debate. Refugees are human. If we romanticise people and their struggle, we’re bound to be disappointed. The fact is that many refugees have come through enormous struggles, and all we’re giving them is basic protection. Everyone deserves that, not just heroes or people with success stories.

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BAD ARGUMENT ONE We should be looking after New Zealanders first.

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I want a government that looks after its own citizens and offers a fair number of places for people who need protection. The idea that we can either look after New Zealanders or refugees is a false choice. It must not be them vs us: the costs of resettling refugees is tiny compared to other government expenses or the $1.5bn of tax cuts put in place in 2009. Sometimes it takes a generation for refugees to properly settle in and that can cost. Think of it this way: the taxes paid by the last generation of refugees (Jewish, Polish, Indochinese) funds a new generation. We’re just paying it forward.

BAD ARGUMENT TWO But what if the refugees are actually terrorists? The average wait for refugees before they are resettled is 17 years. Refugees are vetted by the United Nations and Immigration NZ, and their biometric data is tested against the Five Eyes databases. Anyone wishing to do us harm is much more likely to have the resources to come here on a business, tourist or student visa - which is a quicker process and involves far less scrutiny than are those arriving by the quota 17

BAD ARGUMENT THREE They won’t integrate, they’re not like us. Many arguments against refugees are based on the idea that we should be striving to be alike, rather than comfortable with difference. These arguments were used to keep Jewish people out of New Zealand before and during WW2, Eastern Europeans in the Cold War and the Indochinese during the 1970s. Similar concerns about those refugees were expressed at the time and have now proved to be completely unfounded. 18

BAD ARGUMENT FOUR We can’t resettle all 60m displaced people so why try? The aim of refugee resettlement is not to move everyone from countries at war to countries at peace. The vast majority of refugees stay in neighbouring countries and want nothing more than to return home. The refugee quota is designed only for those most at need who will struggle to survive in neighbouring countries. The quota is not the only, or most important, solution - refugees also need economic support in those neighbouring countries. They also need the right to work and go to school there, and be free from arbitrary arrest.

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BAD ARGUMENT FIVE We must focus on doing a better job with those that are here Much more should be done to help our current intake better settle into New Zealand, this is not a good argument against the government increasing the quota. We must not let a lack of present funding stop us push for doubling the quota and funding for tomorrow.

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If the government doesn’t think our service agencies can cope with the relatively small number we currently get, then why don’t they properly fund them so we can expand in the future?

Refugees cost us $58m a year

H

MYT

The government says it costs $58m every year for New Zealand to host 750 refugees. But that’s not taking into account the benefits the country receives back in terms of taxes paid, work hours contributed to the economy, or volunteer hours given to the local community. That’s Economics 101 – a valid analysis includes both costs and benefits. Leading New Zealand immigration researcher Prof. Paul Spoonley notes that refugees produce a net economic benefit, but this can take longer than other migrants. He points to refugees arriving after World War Two and during the Vietnam War who created strong communi- 21 ties and are active and productive New Zealand citizens.

We doubled the quota in 2015

MYTH

Due to pressure from every sector of society, in September 2015 the government was forced to offer a small emergency quota for Syrian refugees of 750 places over 30 months. In contrast, Canada offered 25,000 places in three months. That is five times more per capita, ten times more quickly. Australia offered 12,000 in twelve months. That’s four times more, two and a half times quicker. It’s a political, not a humanitarian response from our government. But because the government said it was giving 750 places some thought this meant they’d doubled the quota. They haven’t yet. If the quota does not grow this year, it will return to just 750 places after 22 the current emergency quota expires in 2019.

MYTH

Some say we rank 7th in the world

When John Key said that we are 7th in the world, he’s only measuring refugees who are resettled, not asylum seekers who are hosted or accepted by other countries. By his measure, Germany, who received 1.1m refugees arriving as asylum seekers in 2015, would be doing less than New Zealand. While those statistics might suit someone wanting to argue that we’re doing our bit, they’re misleading. By contrast, New Zealand ranks at 90th in the world at ‘hosting’ refugees per capita. Alternatively, we rank at 50th at refugees ‘recognised or resettled’ per capita over the last decade. We aren’t world leaders and if we doubled our quota we still wouldn’t be world leaders. 23

MYTH

When families are included we take thousands

Last June the Prime Minister claimed that when you also include families, New Zealand accepts three or four thousand refugees per year. Later the same day he apologised that he got it wrong. But the myth persists. In fact, there are only 300 places available for family reunification every year. That’s less than half the number of places available in the quota itself. On top of this, the government offers no support for family reunification all airfares and support must be paid for by the families. In Auckland and Wellington there are trusts set up to help these refugee families; the donations raised from September’s candlelight vigil in Wellington all went to 24 the Wellington Refugee Family Reunification Trust.

What You Can Do

When I hear “what can I do?” I ask...

what can you offer? Because that should always be the answer to ‘how can I help?’ Not in the sense that we want things. It’s more that you can only contribute what resources (time, money, energy) that you have and that you’re willing to offer. Everyone’s got their own lives, their own schedules and their own commitment to a fair refugee quota so let’s get your measure... with two questions: 26

Question 1:

what’s your attitude to activism? (a) I’m very busy and don’t have time to get involved with things. (b) When the right issue comes up I’ll get involved. (c) I’m an activist because social change is always won through social movements. 27

Question 2:

how do you feel about the refugee quota? (a) I don’t know. The quota’s probably about right. (b) We definitely need to increase the refugee quota. (c) We should at least double the quota because there’s a crisis and New Zealand needs to do our bit.

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How do you feel about the refugee quota?

What’s your attitude to activism?

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1 2 3 30

If you got a one then this pamphlet probably isn’t for you. But do read on if you’d like to learn more about our refugee resettlement quota. If you got a two you might help, but there’s so much going on in the world and your life. If you got a three that means you’re an ally and are prepared to offer support on social media and support refugees in conversations with friends.

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If you got a four then this is a big issue for you and you’re prepared to help end the three decades with no increase in the refugee quota. There’s a lot to do, but make sure to read the whole booklet for more background on the issues at stake. If you got a five then the refugee quota is the issue for you. Not only are you appalled that our quota has not grown in so long, but you’re going to do whatever it takes to at least double the current quota. 31

For ones: Once people know we haven’t increased our refugee quota in thirty years, while our population has grown by 42%, I’m always interested in why people think the current level is ‘about right’. My theory is that people have been swayed by bad arguments and they’ve heard ‘common sense’ reasons for why New Zealand shouldn’t take more refugees. Read back over the last few pages and see if you recognise the arguments. Can I convince you that they don’t really stand up to examination? If you’re still not convinced, why not follow us on Facebook to hear the stories and get updates as they happen? And if you are convinced, follow us on Facebook and let’s continue the 32 conversation there!

For twos: The good thing about you is that you know there is a refugee crisis on and would like to help. Heck, it’s a crisis, offering a few more places of protection is the least that we could do That means that you’re probably not going to be very convinced by the fearful and reactionary bad arguments that I described on the previous few pages. Sure, some people have genuine concerns about poverty in New Zealand - I certainly do - but to use those concerns to block New Zealand offering basic human rights to a few hundred extra families a year is not fair. Despite all of the best intentions, there remains many myths about refugees. In the opening section I discuss four of them that I think might interest you.

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3

Very interested -

not sure what to do!

Alright! Three’s are a diverse and interesting bunch maybe you are super passionate about a quota increase, but are too busy to really get involved. Or maybe you’re an activist through and through, but you’re unsure about the refugee quota as an issue. Either way you can be a crucial part of this campaign without over-committing. I would say that the vast majority of New Zealanders are a three - we care about human rights and doing our fair share, but we’ve also got other concerns. Take a look at last year’s polls by Colmar Brunton and ResearchNZ. Both asked New Zealanders for their views on the refugee quota, and a clear majority of people said they want an increase. In September 2015 our voices were heard and acted on when the government agreed to offer 35 protection to an additional 750 refugees from Syria over

the next three years. For us to get a permanent increase to the quota, rather than another one-off, we need those voices to be heard again. This campaign needs Action People like you. The real power driving our success so far comes from combining our voices across social media. Mainly Facebook, but Twitter is also a useful medium, especially when talking with journalists. I’m on the internet all the time, replying to comments and sourcing material. I can tell you this for free: we have exceptional reach, regularly achieving engagement many times larger than NGOs with budgets in the millions. All of that is due to the commitment of our 36 supporters. So how do you become one of these people?

I’ve not always found it easy, that’s for sure. Some people get annoyed that I post so much pro-refugee quota material on my page. But the way I see it, amplifying a message so that it’s as noisy as possible does risk deafening those closest to us. That’s why friends and family need to know why we care about this issue so much. Those conversations can be tough for some of us. Believe me, I know. Browse through the bad argument section (pages 16-20) and the common myths (pages 21-25) and you’ll find some good responses to questions you might get. Heck, with a bit of practise you’ll be turning doubtful people into 3s and 4s! 37

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Ahhh, Facebook. Can’t live with it, can’t live without it. Apparently there are 10,000 factors that Facebook considers when determining how many people see your posts. We’ve tried to work out the system, but we’re not smarter than 10,000 components. That said, there are a few things you can do to help us spread the word: (1) Share our posts! A share is the most potent way to get the Double The Quota message out. (2) Comment liberally. Facebook thrives on attention: the more you give us, the more we’ll be seen. We are always thrilled to see you telling those people how it really is. 39

(3) Even clicking ‘like’ helps us. A ‘like’ won’t save the world but it is a micro-act of solidarity that registers with us, and with Facebook’s algorithm. It tells them that our content is popular and so they push it out to more people. (4) The most powerful thing you can do is share our page on your personal page and invite like-minded friends to like our page. This is a great way for us to reach many more people.

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Twitter is a great way to get smart content out to hundreds and thousands of people. See Marianne Elliot’s (from ActionStation) tweet, opposite, for my favourite refugee related tweet of last year. Doing Our Bit has got a solid following of activists, journalists and refugee advocates. Every time you retweet something, it goes to the top of the feed of all the people who follow you. Twitter is slowly rolling out more highlights and advertising features, but for now it is a relatively simple way to amplify the Double the Quota message. 42

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Look inside the circle on this screengrab of our website - www.doingourbit.co.nz - for a small, unobtrusive textbox. Enter your email address and we add you to our list for regular newsletters. The newsletters let you know about important events, in real life and on social media. They tell you when really important material goes online, like the videos we make. And we’ll ask you to share specific content that is important to the success of the campaign. None of it is compulsory, of course, and you can always unsubscribe if a weekly email doesn’t suit you. Also, Doing Our Bit is a campaign, not a business, so your email is only used to share our content. 45

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4 I want to help

increase the quota

While the majority of New Zealanders might be a number three, the majority are rarely the ones who get to shape the agendas that change things. That’s done by people like you who have the passion of a four. You may be someone whose dedication to getting a fair deal for refugees turns them into activists. Or you may be a committed activist already, someone who understands that refugees are not getting a fair deal. Whoever you are, you’re someone who’s ready to show refugees that they have strong advocates here in New Zealand. In short, refugees need social media champions as well as people putting in some of the more traditional activist miles.

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There are three types of actions you can get involved in: 1. Make the step up from broad-based online activism to direct communication with the decision makers. 2. Get involved in refugee resettlement itself and demonstrate New Zealand has the ability to resettle more people. 3. Mobilise organisations to support the Double The Quota cause and to support refugees – starting with the ones you’re already part of. The most important thing at this stage in the campaign is to be signed up for our emails via our website. If a politician says something in the morning, we hold them accountable by lunch. Larger organisations must go 48 through a chain of command. We are a collaborative network, and being nimble and responsive is our strength.

Direct action - communication While social media has been incredibly effective at getting the spotlight on the refugee quota issue, more direct communication is still more powerful. One personalised, original letter from you to a Cabinet Minister is even more valuable than a post getting 100 likes on Facebook. Of course, it’s even better if a picture of that letter is posted to social media with an explanation to friends, colleagues and family of why you’re writing to that Minister. Social media is most powerful when it connects to the kinds of emotions that prompts these letters, and is a great way to take a public stand on what you believe.

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Direct action - communication Write a letter to your local member of Parliament about the things your local community is doing, or not doing for refugees. Local MPs are interested in getting re-elected, and none of them want to go against opinions with a lot of public support. And it’s true that some politicians seem to work under an arcane law that says they’re only required to respond to written correspondence, but not email. So if you email an MP and you get an automated response saying they have received your correspondence “but due to large volumes of messages they can’t reply to everyone” - don’t settle for that. Write a physical letter 50 instead.

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Direct action - communication Write a personal letter to a Cabinet Minister. When the quota was last reviewed, the Cabinet group for External Relations and Defense were the responsible party. However, it is possible that because of the public interest in the case, it will be another group that will decide the quota in 2016. The important thing to note is that the more senior the Cabinet MP, the more influence they will have over the quota. While Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse was once the main focus of the campaign, he is #17 on the list. We’ll be focusing on the top ten in the 52 next few months.

To send any current MP a letter for free (no stamp needed) address it like the one below.

[insert any MPs name] Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 888, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 53

Direct action - communication People who want to raise the quota are the majority, but there is a small, very vocal, anti-refugee section of our society that mistakenly thinks it speaks for most New Zealanders. We need to speak out when we hear misinformed arguments, myths presented as truth and ‘facts’ that are out of date or simply wrong. That means: • calling into talkback radio. The lines are open! • writing into local newspapers both in support of pro-refugee voices, and in opposition to the anti crowd. 54

• refusing to condone ignorant comments, whether online or in person. The simple question ‘why?’ can open up a dialogue. Many people who oppose refugees don’t know how little New Zealand does.

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Direct action - volunteer During the refugee crisis last September, the Red Cross Refugee Services received a year’s worth of volunteers in one week. Getting involved in refugee resettlement shows the government we have the will and capacity to do more. There are many other groups that teach English, coordinate activities, and represent all the different refugee communities. Most need volunteers. In Wellington, for example, MClaSS gives language support and ChangeMakers Refugee Forum work long term with former refugees. Volunteer roles are especially important in new areas, like Dunedin, where services are just setting up now.

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Community support Tayyaba Khan wrote an excellent overview of how ChangeMakers Refugee Forum helped refugees settle into local communities. Changemakers suggest you: 1. Create space for dialogue between tangata whenua and former refugee communities. Many refugees fear whether they would be welcomed. ChangeMakers were warmed by how many iwi reached out, wanting to know more.

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2. Get to know your neighbourhood. Knowing your neighbours is a good way to build social connections, and if your neighbour happens to be a former refugee you can relax with all the assumptions and break the ice.

3. Learn about refugee issues locally and globally. Are we really discussing the refugee crisis, or simply reacting to the most recent catastrophe? What is our role in the Pacific given Australia’s ongoing breach of human rights when it comes to the detention of refugees? 4. Get to know your local refugee organisation. There are amazing organisations who respond to refugees across the country, but most don’t have the funds to invest in a public profile. Seek them out. 5. Nothing happens without funding. This year donate the dollars you spent on cups of coffee to a local charity. 6. Campaign for specialised mental health services in all our resettlement cities, for the refugees who’ve experienced trauma.

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Direct Action - Mobilise

Never underestimate the value and importance of the connections we have in our communities. To grow the refugee quota, we need the widest possible range of organisations to lead social change: NGOs, religious groups, refugee service providers, community groups, unions, local businesses, iwi and more. So as well as ‘what can I do?’ make good lists of ‘who do I know?’ Encourage your groups and organisations to make doubling the quota an official part of their policy. Help us get that message in the media as soon as possible. We already saw it happen in September 2015, when an enormous number of groups came out in support of an 60 increase in the quota. A lot of us were just coming to

terms with New Zealand’s response to the crisis - learning basic differences between migrants and refugees, or between asylum seekers and quota refugees. Now more of us know how a quota refugee gets here, and that our quota has not grown in 29 years. We see that doubling the quota from 750 places to 1,500 is not scary at all. Help us work with more organisations so they have a public policy on the quota. Remember: the government announcement could be as early as March.

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5

Let’s Double the Quota

So you’re a five. Or perhaps you’re a three or a four who’s curious about what a five can do for Doing Our Bit. The campaign needs you to do the social media and traditional media work (letter writing etc), to volunteer, and help us get other organisations on board. But we want five to add something extra and make the issue their own. As well as championing the issue in your organisation, get involved in making it happen at the top level. Or help the campaign by doing original research and writing on refugees. There’s nothing like publishing something in your name to let the world know where your heart lies 63

As a 5, you may not need a booklet to let you know what you can do. You’re probably doing it already! So this section is more about talking with activists who are already keen to get involved.

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For those coming to activism for the first time, then perhaps the point to recognise is that the campaign to double the refugee quota started in a bedroom sometime in early 2013. There was no funding, no board of directors, no focus groups. I just had a lot of time and wasn’t asking to be paid for it. Which is the way most things get done in the world: parenting, community building, housework, arts - precious little of it is compensated, and where it is, you’re lucky to get minimum wage.

Support a public forum in your city I’m travelling around New Zealand in February and March 2016to talk with groups about the quota. I have help already but need more local support, places to speak, others to talk on local issues and people to assist in promoting the events. Can you organise something? Can you make sure that the local newspapers cover it and that people turn up? After March, you can help put on an event or film screening - there are plenty of excellent films on refugees in Australia, for example ‘Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’ and ‘Mary meets Mohammed’ as well as some great, short documentaries from New Zealand

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Opinion piece for a newspaper The media know that our argument to double the quota is supported at the grassroots level and that the support is genuine (not based on advertising or political party allegiance). That’s why the media have overwhelmingly supported the campaign. Because of this there are opportunities to get your voice into the newspaper. Writing a letter to the Editor is one thing, but if you have something new or special to say, they’re often happier to receive articles and opinion pieces directly. I can certainly help fact check and edit any articles you wish to publish. 67

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Get creative Make a t-shirt for you and your friends saying ‘Refugees Welcome’, or ‘Double The Quota’. Make a sign and put it outside your house if you live in a high pedestrian or traffic area. Or make some art, write a song, or a short story. What could be better creative material than innocent, desperate people fleeing danger and heading towards an unknown future? And whatever you do, document it, send it to us and we’ll try to put it up on our site. The more champions and activists we have doing this the more others will feel comfortable doing similar things.

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Local activist maker If you found this booklet useful get in touch with us and we’ll supply more if you help by covering the basic costs of producing them - say $13 for 5 copies or $25 for 10 copies including postage. Just send us an email to organise it. Crowd sourcing ideas are also a great way to get everyone’s minds working together. If you’ve got a great thought, or have seen something that has worked overseas, get in touch! 70

Other groups projects A lot of great ideas have already been covered off. Consider the following riffs on popular actions: At the time of printing, our petition with ActionStation to Double The Quota had over 16,000 signatures. Have you signed it? Amnesty NZ ran a submissions process to let the government know what we think. You can view its progress at www.ourvoices.org.nz Amnesty, ActionStation and Doing Our Bit have a great series of networks to bring together demonstrations in Wellington and Auckland. Contact us for support or advice.

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Some important dates 2016 22 FEBRUARY 700pm Diocesan Centre

Palmerston North

24 FEBRUARY 515pm Brian Bellringer Pavilion

New Plymouth

26 FEBRUARY 600pm Hamilton Waikato Migrant Resource Centre 29 FEBRUARY 600pm Auckland University of Auckland Venue TBC. 72 8 MARCH

600pm Dunedin Otago Uni Archway Lecture Theatre 2

10 MARCH 700pm Cardboard Cathedral

Christchurch

14 MARCH 515pm Victory Community Centre

Nelson

15 MARCH 615pm St Andrews on the Terrace

Wellington

JUNE 18 Auckland Opening of refurbished Mangere Refugee Reception Centre. JUNE 20 Nationwide World Refugee Day events and celebrations nationwide.

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Our funding We operate from a very limited budget, but the funding that we do have comes from the following sources: • Loxley Award from Quaker Peace Service Aotearoa New Zealand; • LUSH cosmetics - charity pot and helping hands; • donation from art sold to Victoria University; • fundraising performance by Conditional Productions; • a small number of donations from the public. If you would like to contribute, send us an email. We can also put you in touch with service providers or fam74 ily reunification groups that you might like to support.

Contact Murdoch Stephens c a m pai gner , s p o k e s p erson an d r e s earcher for

Doing Our Bit to

Double NZs Refugee Quota and Funding

Email [email protected] Online doingourbit.co.nz Facebook facebook.com/AreWeDoingOurBit Twitter @DoingOurBitNZ Hashtag #DoubleTheQuota

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Acknowledgements Over the last three years I’ve had so much support from my communities of academics, activists and artists here in Wellington. It would take a dozen pages to name them all. But that said I’d like to offer my thanks to just a few who went above and beyond: Chris, Nick, Carolynn, Ibrahim, Tayyaba, Tracey, Ann, Sue, everyone at Amnesty NZ and ActionStation, friends in the media, the research and activist teams from Wellington, Alastair, Alison, the dozen politicians from across the major parties, my family, friends and flatmates. And once more to all those who funded us, including those at Rebel Press where we hand bound these booklets. I hope that the process of amplification has been electrifying rather than deafening. Love & solidarity to you all.

Index

ActionStation activism asylum seekers Australia bad arguments booklets Cabinet Ministers Colmar Brunton community support contact costs

42, 71 27, 49 10-11 9, 13 16-20 70 52 5, 35 58-59 75 21

creative ideas Elliott, Marianne email list emergency intake Facebook family reunification films funding Khan, Tayyaba letters to the editor letterwriting

69 42-43 45 22 39-40 24 65 74 58 54 50

mobilise New Zealanders first OpEds opinion polls petition population statistics public forums refugee crisis refugee quota

60-61 16 67 5 71 11 65 12 11, 13, 14, 17, 28

Research NZ selection process Stephens, Murdoch terrorism timeline Twitter volunteer world ranking

5, 35 8 6, 75 17 4, 72-73 42 57 23