Many agencies in our city provide specialised support for migrants and refugees but navigating those services can be confusing. Our Central Library is currently hosting a new information service to help migrants find their way around the range of agencies – Settlement Support is a Department of Labour initiative which funds a service in all main centres of New Zealand.
The Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce is managing the initiative in Christchurch. Shirley Van Waveren is available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm on the library’s first floor. She is happy to help with any enquiries relating to the settlement of migrants – employment, education, health and housing in particular.
Useful links for migrants:
- Migrants guide to Christchurch – Christchurch City Council
Key information to help you get settled, from transport to banking, and tax to medical care. The migrants guide has also been translated into some other languages. - New Migrants
A listing from the library of relevant websites for new migrants arriving in New Zealand. - New settlers
Information from Christchurch City Libraries on library services and collections for new settlers, including books in other languages.