Settlement Support New Zealand - Auckland City: Newsletter December Issue 25

Settlement Support New Zealand Auckland City – Tāmaki-makau-rau Haere koe I te ara a taihoa, ki a tae ai koe ki aua atu. (‘Travel o nthe pathway of by and by, so that you may reach goodness knows where.’ Accept what the future offers) Tīhema (December) 2010/Issue 25 Haere Mai, Nau Mai, Haere Mai Kei te pēhea koutou? How are you all? Welcome to the twenty-fifth Settlement Support New Zealand—Auckland City Newsletter. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide you with information about what Settlement Support – Auckland City does, and where you can find information about employment, education, health services and many other aspects of settling in New Zealand. This is also an opportunity to share with you the services and activities available around Auckland City. Bevan Chuang, Settlement Support Coordinator – Please feel free to pass on this newsletter onto friends, family and community Auckland City colleagues.Updates from Settlement Support New Zealand – Auckland City Auckland International Carnival th th The Auckland International Carnival was held on the 6 and 7 November at the Ellerslie Racecourse. The parade, excellent performances, and the variety of stalls gave the day a true carnival atmosphere. ARMS had a stall at the Carnival - thanks to all who visited us! You can check out the photos on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ssnzakl and you can read more about the event on http://aucklandinternationalcarnival.co.nz/. Client and Service Providers Enquiries 181 people visited SSNZ Auckland City/ARMS Three Kings during November 2010, and 147 of them were first time clients. About 23% of the clients contacted SSNZ Auckland about finding employment, 13% required interpretation or translation services, 11% wanted information about learning English, almost 9% wanted information about IRD and taxation and almost 8%wanted information about cultural and community.The majority of our clients in October were from China (24%), India (15%). Samoa (7%), Philippines, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (3% each). Many ofthem have permanent residence in New Zealand, 26% were family members of skilled migrants, and 20% were skilled migrants. 16% had workpermits and 8% on visitor permits.Almost 40% of the clients had been in New Zealand less than 2 years, with 16% having been here longer than 2 years and 36% more than 5years.There were 15 service providers to service providers referrals from 9 service providers, related to cultural/community, translation andinterpreters. employment, learning English and immigration. Christmas and New Year closure The Auckland Regional Migrant Services is closed between 23rd December 2010 to 7th January 2011 for Christmas and New Year holiday. Ngā mihi o te wā me te Tau Hou, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Updates from Department of LabourPublic Holidays 2010/2011The general rule for public holidays is that they are taken on the day they fall. There are four public holidays that are treated differently. ndThese are Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2 of January.If you are an employer it is important to know how to manage staff holiday and leave entitlements over the upcoming Christmas period. Tohelp you understand annual holidays, closedowns, and public holidays (including when the four public holidays are taken) the Departmentof Labour has a range of helpful information and tools to assist. To find out more visit www.ers.dol.govt.nz/holidaysWhen any of these four public holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday the first step is to look at your employees’ work patterns. You need todetermine if the public holiday falls on an employee’s ‘Otherwise Working Day’(http://www.dol.govt.nz/workplace/knowledgebase/item/1288). You can use the Department of Labour’s Holiday Online Tool(http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/holidays-online-tool/default.aspx_ to help you with that. You can then use this chart to help you determinewhich day the public holiday will be taken. Not an otherwise working day Is an otherwise working day th th thChristmas Day (Saturday 25 December) Christmas Day taken on Monday 27 Christmas Day taken on Saturday 25 December * December th th thBoxing Day (Sunday 26 December) Boxing Day taken on Tuesday 28 December Boxing Day taken on Sunday 26 December * st rd stNew Year’s Day ( Saturday 1 January) New Year’s Day taken on Monday 3 New Year’s Day taken on Saturday 1 January * January nd th ndNew Year Holiday ( Sunday 2 January ) New Year Holiday taken on Tuesday 4 New Year Holiday taken on Sunday 2 January * January*If the day that the public holiday is taken on is not an otherwise working day for that employee then the employee observes that publicholiday as an unpaid public holiday.  Additional information on Public Holidays (http://ers.govt.nz/holidays_act_2003/public_holidays.html)  Use the Holidays Online Tool (http://ers.govt.nz/holidays-online-tool/default.aspx)  Get information on the proposed changes (http://www.ers.govt.nz/law/reviews/index.html) to the Employment Relations Act 2000 and Holidays Act 2003Are you aware of changes to the Employment Relations Act and Holidays Actpassed by Parliament recently? Most changes come into effect on 1 April 2011.Key changes to the Employment Relations Act include:  Extending the 90-day trial period to cover all businesses  Improving personal grievance processes  Retention of employment agreements  Union access to workplaces  Role and powers of labour inspectorsKey changes to the Holidays Act include:  The option to cash-in up to one week of annual leave  The option to agree to transfer the observance of public holidays  Proof of sickness or injuryKeep up-to-date on whats happening by reading our emails like this one and visiting our website: http://ers.govt.nz/updates

What’s Coming Up? Workshops *All free and conducted in English unless otherwise stated. Job Search Workshop 7th and 14th December, 9.30am—3.00pm Workshop to assist with your job search. Held in conjunction with Career Services and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and other agencies. Legal Clinics Fridays, 9.30am—12.00pm Heval Hylan, Principal of Hylan Law Barrister & Solicitor, will be providing free 10-minutes legal advice on immigration, family law, contract, trusts and other areas of law in general. Free Counselling Services to support newcomers to New Zealand Fridays, 9.30am – 12.30pm Making a new life in a foreign country can sometimes be difficult to cope with and can sometimes feel overwhelming. Talking with someone who understands what you are experiencing may help you to make sense of what’s happening and assist you to move forward with confidence and hope. Service offer by student counsellor from New Zealand Institute of Professional Counselling. Pronunciation Guidance Course Saturdays, 20th, 27th November; 4th, 11th and 18th December, 4.00pm – 6.00m A 5 week course; $195 per person, includes course materials. Are you needing to improve the clarity and fluency of your spoken English and identify the sounds that you mispronounce? This course will provide you with the tools you need to assist you in identifying the English sounds that are most difficult for you and make yourself better understood in a kiwi environment. Marae Visit Sunday 5th December, 9.00am – 4.00pm $20 per person, includes morning tea and hangi lunch. Introduction to Maori history, life and culture. Includes transport to the Marae. Learn how to do the Haka and do flax weaving. Once in a lifetime experience. Registration essential. Financial Planning and Management in New Zealand Saturday 11 December, 9.30am – 12.00pm Do you want to know what is personal financial planning? How to do a financial plan? What is financial management? What is estate and tax planning? What are your options for retirement planning?For more information or to register contact ARMS on 09 625 2440 or reception@arms-mrc.org.nz. Have you been forwarded this newsletter? If you would like to change your subscription details or unsubscribe email If youve been forwarded this newsletter and you wish to subscribe email ssnzauckland@arms-mrc.org.nz. ssnzauckland@arms-mrc.org.nz. Have you got any suggestions or feedback about the newsletter? Please email ssnzauckland@arms-mrc.org.nz

Press Release: Playgroup for Auckland’s Refugee Communities“My daughter, Thamilini, wakes up in the morning and starts talking about the playgroup as well asmentioning all of her new friends”, says Sandananayagy Marusalin.Sandananayagy is one of the fifteen mothers whose children attend the Multicultural Safari Playgroupbased at Griffen Park – Lynfield – Auckland..Initially run from the May Road Community Centre, the Playgroup has been relocated to the purpose-builtfacilities in Lynfield, thanks to the Auckland Play Centre Association. So far, parents and children fromseven different ethnic backgrounds attend the Playgroup and English classes.The playgroup is having an open day on Thursday 9th December 2010 from 11.00am- 2.00pm and wewould like to invite you to this event. The Playgroup is for pre-school children and their parents fromAuckland’s refugee communities.“I like the fact that my daughter can learn at the playgroup using her own language and English as well”,adds Sandananayagy.While the children are in the playgroup, the mothers attend English Classes, run by an ESOL Teacher at theplaygroup.The community driven project arose from a joint scoping exercise and now partnership between theAuckland Refugee Community Coalition (ARCC) and the Auckland Regional Migrant Services CharitableTrust (ARMS).The Multicultural Playgroup was formed to create a professional and stable early childhood service forrefugee children alongside a range of opportunities for parents to participate in learning opportunities forthemselves, such as English classes and getting work experience in the Early Childhood Education sector.The Playgroup is regularly attended by between 10 and 15 children.Mary Dawson, Executive Director, Auckland Regional Migrant Services (ARMS).For more information, please contact Shoma Prasad, Communications and PR Officer on 625 3095, oremail Shomap@arms-mrc.org.nz

2010/11 BREAKAWAY HOLIDAY PROGRAMMEWaterSafe Auckland, with funding from the Ministry of SocialDevelopment, is running FREE Breakaway Holiday programmesin December 2010 and January 2011. This is a water activity basedprogramme for children aged 11-13 years, to be held at the OtaraLeisure Centre. The activities will be organised and delivered bystaff from Surf Lifesaving and WaterSafe Auckland.Activities include: learn to swim; water safety skills; surf sports;and water based games. Date: Monday 20th – Thursday 24th December or Monday 17th –Thursday 20th January or Monday 24th – Thursday 27th January Time: 9.00am – 2.00pm Venue: Otara Leisure Centre 115 Bairds RoadFor more information or to receive an enrolment form pleasecontact:Angelo NaudeEmail: angelo.naude@watersafe.org.nzTelephone: 306 0809

Media Release23 November 2010 Pacific Peoples and Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panels: applications openApplications have opened for the Auckland Council’s Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel and the EthnicPeoples Advisory Panel.Once established each panel will be responsible for identifying and communicating the interests andpreferences of their communities in Auckland in terms of the new council’s strategies, policies, plansand bylaws.The Mayor is keen for a diversity of people to get involved in the new structure.“As a panel member, you will have an opportunity to shape, debate and provide advice to me and thecouncil on important issues that affect you,” says Len Brown.The Mayor is seeking people who are passionate about the well-being of Pacific and Ethnic peoplesin Auckland, are strategic thinkers, skilled and confident communicators and hold broad perspectiveson the issues faced by their communities.Applications are open from Wednesday 24 November and will close at midday on Friday December17 2010. Applications and queries should be sent to pacificpanel@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or toethnicpanel@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.More information will be available at Auckland Council (www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz) and Ministry ofPacific Island Affairs (www.mpia.govt.nz).The Mayor will convene a selection committee for each Panel which will consider applications andmake recommendations to him. This is in line with advice provided by the Office of Ethnic Affairs andthe Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs which consulted widely with communities in Auckland.The Ministry’s advice can be found at www.mpia.govt.nz/news.EndsFor media assistance contact:Glyn JonesChief Press SecretaryOffice of the MayorPhone: +64 21 475 897

Settlement Support New Zealand - Auckland City: Newsletter December Issue 25

by Settlement Support New Zealand - Auckland City, Auckland Regional Migrant Services on Dec 07, 2010

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Settlement Support New Zealand - Auckland City: Newsletter December Issue 25 — Document Transcript