The world comes to Ashburton

A report on newcomer and migrant issues in Ashburton was presented in September to around 130 people from a wide range of communities.

Kaumatua Wiremu Kora said mid-Canterbury was “like a big cultural melting pot.”. The purpose of the meeting was to present ideas on how to support and assist newcomers and to get feedback from the wider community. The report made 17 major recommendations for action on the basis of focus group discussions that were held from late 2007 and May 2009.

There were groups for ESOL learners, Romanian learning centre clients, Pacific secondary school students, Filipino farm workers, Samoan women, Chinese temporary residentsm and a number of other mixed and specific groups.

The report also contains valuable feedback from social service providers and employers, including a farming sector focus group which raised important issues facing migrant workers and their families in the rural sector.

For a copy of the report email Raewyn Barclay of Ashburton Safer Community Council.