In Different Voices: Auckland Refugee Communities’ Engagement with Conflict Resolution in New Zealand

Abstract

Refugees face well-documented challenges in adapting to life in a new country, including accessing formal justice mechanisms and institutions and engaging in forms of dispute resolution that are culturally relevant, appropriate, and sensitive to the communities involved. Nevertheless, how refugee communities deal with intra-and inter-community conflicts is an under-studied aspect of the settlement process in refugee resettlement states. This article focuses on how three groups (refugee community leaders, conflict resolution professionals, and policy advisors and analysts) integrally involved in conflict resolution matters with refugees in New Zealand, one of the 26 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) resettlement states for refugees, perceive the key sources of conflict within and between refugee communities, other migrant communities, and the host society. It examines the ways refugee communities in New Zealand's largest city attempt to address conflicts and the problems and continuing difficulties they face in attempting to meet government expectations of achieving successful integration while dealing with conflict issues. Recommendations for future policy consideration by decision-makers in relation to refugees and conflict resolution (such as government support for traditional or culturally adapted early intervention conflict resolution methods and mechanisms used by refugee communities, and dedicated training in refugee and migrant awareness for professionals working in conflict resolution) are also included in this article.

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“…This factor's role cannot be denied because it is being played by immigration brokers, where some young people are narrow to the nature of life in their countries, given their strong feeling that they deserve more than they are. They look to their country's future with extreme pessimism, and he applies to their view of the following in their own lives (Kate et al, 2019). 6 https://dx.doi.org/10.30566/ijo-bs/2021.01.41 2600-8254/© 2018 All rights reserved by IJO-BS.…”

Community Policing and the Syrian Refugee Community in Wellington District

“…Sources of these feelings included the transference of fear from home country experiences, as well as the creation of misunderstandings due to language barriers. 12 While this suggests these feelings are a perception only, they are likely to have a significant impact on any interactions with authority figures in New Zealand.…”

“…Kate et al recommend greater inclusion of alternative resolutions within justice pathways. 53 The use of Te Pae Oranga Panels, 54 for example, have been found to be effective in reducing the harm which can come from re-offending, 55 and may provide pathways for dealing with offending that are more supportive of cultural sensitivities and solutions. Ethnic minority representation and perspectives in panels should be considered.…”

Sustainable Transformation of Resettled Communities for Landless Peasants: Generation Logic of Spatial Conflicts

“…The initial goal of the involuntary resettlement project is to improve living environments. However, there are often intense community conflicts within immigrant groups, between different immigrant groups, and between immigrant groups and the original residents of such communities, that affect their sustainable development [13,14]. Among these, conflicts caused by space competition behaviors are pervasive in resettled communities.…”