Following on from the Wellington "Refugee resettlement: spotlight on Aotearoa" event, we invite you to join our kōrero, as we hear from Golriz Ghahraman and Mustafa Derbashi followed by a screening of short film 'Amadi' depicting a former refugee's experience in New Zealand.

Thousands of people have been resettled in New Zealand as part of the quota refugee programme. Driven to leave their homes due to fear of violence and persecution, refugees face a journey to a new country strife with the unknown.

Join us to learn about what this journey looks like, New Zealand's political response, and the action that is required to better support those who have been forced to leave their homes.

Speaker Information:

Golriz Ghahraman is an Iranian-Kiwi refugee and made history as the first ever refugee to be sworn in as an MP, having arrived in Aotearoa as a child asylum seeker with her family from Iran.In New Zealand, she has successfully advocated on human rights issues before the Supreme Court. Before entering parliament as list MP for the Green Party, Golriz was active in the NGO community, volunteering her skills to advance justice reform, refugee and migrant rights, and for family carers of disabled persons.

Mustafa Derbashi has been an active part of helping Middle Eastern and Muslim migrants and refugees integrate into New Zealand life. He is currently a member of Kāpuia - the Ministerial Advisory Group on the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosques. In 2021, Mustafa was appointed a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to migrant and refugee communities.