The first Syrian refugees destined for Dunedin have begun arriving in New Zealand.
This comes as the Red Cross continues to ramp up preparations for the refugees' arrival in the city next month, having already signed up 400 volunteers. A second group of 45 refugees will arrive in the city in June.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) refugee division national manager Andrew Lockhart said the March intake of refugees had started arriving in Auckland before a six-week reception programme at the Mangere refugee resettlement centre, which starts next week.
Included among the March intake were the 45 refugees who would be resettled in Dunedin when the programme ended on April 22, Mr Lockhart said.
The reception programme would include a health assessment, initial treatment and health promotion; settlement planning and orientation to New Zealand life; English language assistance; and preparing working-age adults for employment and children for school.
The exact make-up of the refugees destined for Dunedin had not yet been confirmed, he said.
Another 45 Syrian refugees taking part in the May intake were scheduled to be resettled in Dunedin at the completion of the programme on June 17.
Red Cross southern humanitarian services manager Sue Price said after the first two intakes of 45 refugees, about 30 refugees would be arriving in Dunedin every two months. A total of about 175 refugees would come to the city each year.
Red Cross was making ‘‘great strides'' with its preparations. Four extra staff were coming on board soon and volunteer training was starting next week, Ms Price said.
Staff from INZ, Red Cross and the health and education sector had also participated in training together and ‘‘had a much better idea about what each other are doing''.
