NZRAP 2022
The inaugural New Zealand Refugee Advisory Panel was launched in July 2022.
About the New Zealand Refugee Advisory Panel
Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT), an interim advisory group, the Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies (CAPRS), in partnership with Immigration New Zealand, are thrilled to announce the launch of the inaugural Refugee Advisory Panel (NZRAP) 2022. NZRAP comprises nine individuals representing a diverse cross-section of Aotearoa’s refugee and former refugee communities.
As part of their two-year term, the inaugural panel will develop a sustainable engagement model which ensures refugee community perspectives are reflected in the development of New Zealand refugee policy. The overall aim of NZRAP is to provide refugees and former refugees in New Zealand with an opportunity to effectively and meaningfully participate in developing refugee resettlement strategies and policies.
Notably, the panel’s work will succeed through collaboration and engagement with existing refugee community groups, organisations, and networks.
Over the first few months, the panel will be engaged in an orientation process to design and structure the mechanism for the years ahead. This will include key elements such as a terms of reference, governance structures, engagement and consultation with partners and communities, and policy priorities for collaborative advocacy. CAPRS will work closely with NZRAP to provide capability building, policy training and research support to help ensure they have the tools needed to participate and meaningfully engage in policymaking.
Selection Process
The Selection Committee included nine representatives from the following categories: refugee leaders, refugee community representatives, tangata whenua, academia, government and civil society. Over a one month recruitment period the Selection Committee shortlisted applications, conducted interviews and collectively deliberated the candidates throughout each stage of the process.
On behalf of R-SEAT, the interim advisory group and Immigration New Zealand, CAPRS would like to extend our sincere thanks to each member of the Selection Committee for their support and commitment to ensuring the success of the recruitment process for the inaugural New Zealand Refugee Advisory Panel.