Stories

Ubah is a young woman from a refugee background who has creative dreams. She’s gaining useful skills with help from New Zealand Red Cross and a generous member of her community.

It’s been just over a year since the first former refugees arrived in Invercargill and Carlos was among them. To many listeners in the south and beyond he’s also known as DJ JC Japon.

When Mr Mohammadi arrived in New Zealand six years ago he was on his own and had just basic English. Fast forward to 2019 and his perseverance and a passion to change the world has helped him graduate with an honour’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Canterbury.

As Invercargill celebrates one year since the city first welcomed former refugees under the quota, we met some of the newcomers to find out how they’re getting on in Southland.

A connection with Red Cross has helped a business in Nelson find a new approach to hiring staff.

From a refugee camp to working for a Nelson business, life has changed dramatically for Naw Ellis over the past two years.

A former refugee is introducing Wellington to new flavours after opening a restaurant.

How one opportunity helped create a brighter future for one former refugee in New Zealand.

Landing a job as a florist has been a dream come true for one former refugee from Afghanistan.

A new project is helping the environment and the community by turning used coffee sacks into reusable shopping bags.

Mohammad Ali is Palestinian and came to New Zealand in 2016 as a refugee. Now he's working with Dunedin Housing Maintenance Contractors, a job he found with help from our Pathways to Employment programme.

Pee Htoo is building a new future for himself through a job at GJ Gardner which he found with help from our Pathways to Employment programme.