Refugees

A DigitalNZ Story by National Library of New Zealand Topics

Disasters, climate change and war force people to flee and resettle in other countries. Explore refugee survival stories and the resettlement programmes of the United Nations, and New Zealand Red Cross for these displaced people. SCIS no. 1808408

arts, social_sciences, english, history

Image: Crowd greeting Polish refugees on their train journey to Pahiatua from Wellington

Crowd greeting Polish refugees

Crowd greeting Polish refugees on their train journey to Pahiatua from Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Pahīatua's 'Little Poland' - Roadside Stories

Pahīatua's 'Little Poland'

Pahīatua's 'Little Poland' - Roadside Stories

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Boys' dormitory at Polish children's refugee camp, Pahiatua

Boys' dormitory at Polish children's refugee camp

Boys' dormitory at Polish children's refugee camp, Pahiatua

Alexander Turnbull Library

New Zealand's first refugees: Pahiatua's Polish children

Preface - New Zealand's First Refugees: Pahiatua's Polish Children

Victoria University of Wellington

Image: Polish refugee children arriving in New Zealand on board the ship General Randall

Peter Fraser (then Prime Minister) and Countess Wodzicka (far left) greet Polish refugee children who have just arrived in Wellington on board the ship General Randall in 1944. These World War II refugee children were part of some 734 Polish children “invited” by New Zealand in 1944. Most were orphans who had lost their parents in Russian labour camps during the war.

Polish refugee children arriving in New Zealand on board the ship General Randall

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The refugee tide

The refugee tide

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sam's story - a sense of belonging

Sam's story - a sense of belonging

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

My name is Rez

Services to Schools

Image: Naturalisation certificate

Naturalisation certificate

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Climate refugee

Climate refugees

Climate refugee

Radio New Zealand

Words matter

Services to Schools

New New Zealanders

Services to Schools

Image: Neverland

Neverland

Alexander Turnbull Library

Refugee stories

Services to Schools

Refugees: New Zealand as a haven

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Evacuees from Vietnam, at Whenuapai Aerodrome, Auckland

Evacuees from Vietnam, at Whenuapai aerodrome

Evacuees from Vietnam, at Whenuapai Aerodrome, Auckland

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Vietnamese boat people

Vietnamese boat people

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Migrant and refugee organisations: Early migrant organisations

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Somalian mother and son reunited in New Zealand - Photograph taken by John Nicholson

Somali mother and son reunited in New Zealand

Somalian mother and son reunited in New Zealand - Photograph taken by John Nicholson

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Asian refugees from Uganda arriving at Wellington Airport

Asian refugees from Uganda arriving at Wellington airport

Asian refugees from Uganda arriving at Wellington Airport

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Cambodian refugees learning to ride bicycles in Waikanae - Photograph taken by Melanie Burford

Cambodian refugees learning to ride bicycles in Waikanae

Cambodian refugees learning to ride bicycles in Waikanae - Photograph taken by Melanie Burford

Alexander Turnbull Library

Refugees or migrants: What's in a word?

Refugees or migrants?

Radio New Zealand

Image: Belgian refugees

Belgian refugees in the First World War

Belgian refugees

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Taranaki refugees (Lyttelton Times, 15 August 1860)

TARANAKI REFUGEES. (Lyttelton Times, 15 August 1860)

National Library of New Zealand

Syrian refugee crisis

Services to Schools

UNHCR

Services to Schools

Refugees

Services to Schools

Image: Child in a Japanese refugee camp, China

When people can no longer live in their country due to violence, persecution or natural disaster they often flee and stay in refugee camps. These camps are mostly run by NGO organisations such as the UN and provide basic accommodation, education and healthcare. Although these camps are supposed to be temporary places for refugees to stay, some have lived in camps for many years. Currently the largest camps are in The Middle East, Africa and South Asia. This is an image of a young boy living in a Japanese refugee camp in China.

Child in a Japanese refugee camp, China

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Hubbard, James, 1949- :'Julia Gillard's in difficulty out there...' 4 March 2013

'Julia Gillard's in difficulty out there...

Australia has one of the strictest refugee and asylum seeker policies. Refugees are required to stay in offshore detention centres before being allowed into Australia. In 2016 there were approximately 2000 asylum seekers living in these detention centres, which the government is under pressure to close. New Zealand has offered take 150 refugees and asylum seekers, however this decision has created much controversy. This cartoon is one of many that portray a view of the government’s decision.

Hubbard, James, 1949- :'Julia Gillard's in difficulty out there...' 4 March 2013

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Somalian refugee family, Lower Hutt

Somalian refugee family

The first Somali refugees came to New Zealand in 1993. Over the last 15 or so years, many refugees entering New Zealand (like Abdi Mohamed, his wife and 11 children in the above photograph) have been from countries associated with the Horn of Africa. Refugees from this part of the world have fled from natural disasters, famine, civil war and anarchy to refugee camps in Ethiopia, Sudan and Kenya - and from those camps to New Zealand.

Somalian refugee family, Lower Hutt

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Red Cross flag with signatures

Red Cross flag

Life can be very tough for refugees as they are forced to leave their homes and everything they are familiar with. This change can be very difficult, so there are organisations that aid refugees. Here in New Zealand, the New Zealand Red Cross are one of the main providers of community refugee resettlement programmes. The Red Cross provide several services to help refugees settle in New Zealand including, orientation information sessions, settlement planning workshops and employment assistance.

Red Cross flag with signatures

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Refugees

Refugees

Alexander Turnbull Library

When we were refugees

Services to Schools