Red Cross Refugees and International Efforts
Paul Alsford, Pathways to Settlement Manager, NZ Red Cross, Masterton
Thursday, 15 May 2025 7:30pm
Wairarapa
Rosewood, 417 Queen Street, Masterton
Scenes of refugees, fleeing from yet another conflict, regularly fill our television screens. But distressed families in regions far away from New Zealand, can seem far removed from our comfortable lives here in New Zealand.
This month the Wairarapa Branch of the NZ Institute of International Affairs is to face up to the issue of refugees, when two speakers address the Branch:
Paul Alsford - Pathways to Settlement Manager NZ Red Cross Masterton
Atta-Ul Maneeb - Settlement Lead for settlement communities Wairarapa.
The New Zealand Red Cross is part of the largest humanitarian network in the world. Through the work of 13 million volunteers, Red Cross reaches 150 million people in 190 countries, responding to the needs of people made vulnerable by disasters, conflict, and other emergencies, assisting people in a neutral and impartial way, regardless of their cultural, religious, or political affiliations.
As Pathways to Settlement Manager in Masterton, Paul’s focus is on the settlement of former refugees into our area. Moving into a new community is inevitably life-changing, learning about a new society, language, culture and systems.
Paul had been in social work for over 10 years, before widening his horizons to consultancy in vocational rehabilitation, spending several years in management in central Government, including business Manager for the Electrical Workers’ Licensing Group. Paul retained a focus on supporting refugee settlement, as a volunteer with both Catholic Social Services and Red Cross.
A key member of the Red Cross Settlement Team is Atta-Ul Muneeb, a former refugee who brings his lived experience to his role as Settlement Lead – a community-focussed role with new immigrant communities here in Masterton.
New Zealand Red Cross is one of six organisations nationwide which provide community settlement support to former refugees who have arrived under the annual government quota system. To help families, Red Cross aims to support then until they can live independently and to build a sense of belonging in New Zealand. The organisation provides support in: Palmerston North, Levin, Masterton, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Dunedin and Invercargill.
A cup of tea or coffee will be available from 7pm.
Members of the public are welcome with a $5 koha. The usual rules of public discourse apply.
Scenes of refugees, fleeing from yet another conflict, regularly fill our television screens. But distressed families in regions far away from New Zealand, can seem far removed from our comfortable lives here in New Zealand.
This month the Wairarapa Branch of the NZ Institute of International Affairs is to face up to the issue of refugees, when two speakers address the Branch:
Paul Alsford - Pathways to Settlement Manager NZ Red Cross Masterton
Atta-Ul Maneeb - Settlement Lead for settlement communities Wairarapa.
The New Zealand Red Cross is part of the largest humanitarian network in the world. Through the work of 13 million volunteers, Red Cross reaches 150 million people in 190 countries, responding to the needs of people made vulnerable by disasters, conflict, and other emergencies, assisting people in a neutral and impartial way, regardless of their cultural, religious, or political affiliations.
As Pathways to Settlement Manager in Masterton, Paul’s focus is on the settlement of former refugees into our area. Moving into a new community is inevitably life-changing, learning about a new society, language, culture and systems.
Paul had been in social work for over 10 years, before widening his horizons to consultancy in vocational rehabilitation, spending several years in management in central Government, including business Manager for the Electrical Workers’ Licensing Group. Paul retained a focus on supporting refugee settlement, as a volunteer with both Catholic Social Services and Red Cross.
A key member of the Red Cross Settlement Team is Atta-Ul Muneeb, a former refugee who brings his lived experience to his role as Settlement Lead – a community-focussed role with new immigrant communities here in Masterton.
New Zealand Red Cross is one of six organisations nationwide which provide community settlement support to former refugees who have arrived under the annual government quota system. To help families, Red Cross aims to support then until they can live independently and to build a sense of belonging in New Zealand. The organisation provides support in: Palmerston North, Levin, Masterton, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Dunedin and Invercargill.
A cup of tea or coffee will be available from 7pm.
Members of the public are welcome with a $5 koha. The usual rules of public discourse apply.
Membership
NZIIA membership is open to anyone interested in understanding the importance of global affairs to the political and economic well-being of New Zealand.