Knowledge for New Settlers: A Survey of Needs in Hamilton (2002)
Group or Institution
Migration Research Group and Anthropology Department, University of Waikato
Author(s)
Elsie S. Ho, Jacqueline M. Lidgard, Wendy E. Cowling and Richard D. Bedford
Abstract
Over the past decade there has been a substantial increase in the number of non-English-speaking-background new immigrants and refugees coming to New Zealand. The 2001 census identified 6,600 new migrants who had chosen to settle in Hamilton between 1996 and 2001; ten percent of them could speak other languages but not English or Maori. The main aim of this report is to provide information to assist with the development of support services for new immigrants and refugees in Hamilton. The specific research objectives were to:
- describe the demographic characteristics of new settlers in Hamilton;
- analyse the information currently available to new settlers in Hamilton;
- determine the extent to which existing information is able to meet the needs of new settlers;
- identify the information that would be most useful translated into “other” languages; and
- recommend ways in which the delivery of information services to new settlers can be improved.
The research project has found that there is a wide range of information on issues related to daily living, transport, health, education, housing, welfare, legal and employment available to new settlers. However, it is scattered across various locations in the city and is often difficult for even local English speakers to access. Around 80 percent of this information is written in the English language only.
Twenty-four key informants from ethnic community, NGO community and government agencies rated the usefulness of items of information for new settlers and the need for translation into other languages. Information that is considered “highly useful” and “highly necessary” to have translated includes the following 15 items:
- Local English language tuition and costs
- Local interpreters and translation services
- How to set up a bank account
- How to obtain a driver’s licence
- New Zealand traffic rules and regulations
- New Zealand education system
- New Zealand tax system
- New Zealand health system