Call for Palmerston North to take more refugees

Palmerston North could accommodate more refugees as the heat goes on for New Zealand to boost its quota.

Human rights commissioner Dame Susan Devoy, the Refugee Council of New Zealand and the Red Cross have made calls for an increased quota. The Government has not increased the quota since 1987.

Red Cross Midcentral humanitarian services manager Sonja de Lange said Parliament would have to make a decision before the Red Cross did anything.

New Zealand had 100,000 new immigrants every year, compared with 750 refugees, she said.

De Lange said if there was not enough room in the current resettlement areas, there could be a new area created.

“At the end of the day it’s about making sure it works for the community.”

The Red Cross provides courses to equip refugees with the skills to get into sustainable employment.

Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-Galloway said the fact discussion had been started was promising.

NZ First MP Darroch Ball said a larger quota created a risk that services could be stretched.

“It’s not good for the refugees or the country as a whole.” He said there was a lot of pressure on non-governmental organisations as well.

“If we let them down, they will end up being on the benefit and in a state house.”

Palmerston North City Council economic policy adviser Peter Crawford said migration was high at the moment, which meant there were fewer job opportunities.

People staying in work longer put more pressure on the labour market, he said.

But he believed the city would be able to handle more.

“When we started as a resettlement area we were taking 60. Now we are up to 120.”

He said the increase was not too noticeable.

Australia approves engineering firm sale to Chinese company

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) ” The Australian government on Wednesday approved the sale of one of the nation’s largest construction companies, John Holland Group Pty. Ltd., to state-owned giant China Communications Construction Company International Holding Ltd.

Treasurer Joe Hockey said he approved the sale under foreign investment rules because it was in Australia’s national interests.

March against the genocide of Native Americans through assimilation