Migrant Community Reference Group

The Migrant Community Reference Group (the Group) is a dedicated forum for the Minister of Immigration to engage with perspectives from New Zealand’s migrant communities.

The Group was formed in March 2023 by the Minister of Immigration who chairs the meetings. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) provides secretariat services to the Group.

The role and objectives of the Group

The purpose of the Group is to provide a forum for regular two-way communication between the Minister of Immigration and a wide range of migrant communities to:

  • share migrant communities’ experiences of the immigration system and perspectives on immigration (including strategy, policy, administration, and outcomes) to inform the Minister of Immigration’s medium-term priorities for the immigration system
  • share the Minister of Immigration’s medium-term vision and priorities for the immigration system with migrant communities.

The role of the Group will be to discuss and share ideas.  It will not set a work programme or be a forum to resolve individual immigration cases.

It is not intended that the Group will replace existing Ministerial engagement with stakeholders of the immigration regulatory system.

Terms of reference for the Migrant Community Reference Group

The structure of the Group

The Minister of Immigration has appointed 10 members to the Group.

In appointing members, the Minister of Immigration has considered the composition of New Zealand’s migrant population, the desire for two-way engagement with a wide range of these communities, the demographic composition of members, and the ability of members to provide helpful insights to inform medium-term priorities for immigration.

The Group will meet each quarter for up to 12 months, with the first meeting held on 21 March 2023.  After this initial 12-month period, the Minister may re-assess the Group’s role and function.

Group members

The Minister of Immigration has appointed the following individuals as members of the Group, for the initial 12-month period:

Last updated: 21 March 2023