Posted on 29 March 2023
On 10 March, an open letter went to the government from humanitarian organisations and Ukrainian community groups in New Zealand requesting targeted humanitarian policy for Ukrainian refugees fleeing to New Zealand. On March 15, 2022, the New Zealand government announced the introduction of the Special Ukraine Policy, which among other actions allows 4,000 Ukrainian refugees to seek safety in New Zealand.
The majority of the requests from the open letter have been adopted, as well as some additional tasks based on research. However, World Vision with the humanitarian sector and Ukrainian organisations are still pushing for an extension of the Ukraine Special Visa past two years to provide Ukrainians with security and the opportunity to establish a life in New Zealand in light of the ongoing nature of the war in Ukraine.