New stats show a few South Africans trying to emigrate to liberal New Zealand as refugees, and failing! However many succeed as students & residents

New statistics published by New Zealand Immigration shows how South Africans have been trying to emigrate to the country using refugee status, and failing.

New Zealand resettles 1,000 refugees each year through its Refugee Quota Programme. Since World War II the country has resettled over 35,000 refugees, with the New Zealand government establishing an formal annual quota for the resettlement of refugees in 1987.

In 2019, nine South Africans applied to be part of the programme – bringing the total to 83 who have tried this route since 2010.

All of these applications have failed.

Refugees considered for resettlement under the programme must be recognised as mandated refugees and referred to New Zealand by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), according to prescribed resettlement guidelines.

According to the UNHCR, far from being a source country for refugees, South Africa is a country where refugees from neighbouring countries flee

Refugee status no easy way out

AfriForum often receives enquiries about refugee status because people feel increasingly unsafe. The civil rights organisation is convinced that Afrikaners – who know no other home – are able to lead a meaningful and sustainable existence in peace with other communities, here on the southernmost tip of Africa. Even if you are worried about the future, we strongly discourage you to try and obtain refugee status in another country.

Refugee status is a very limiting status and surely isn’t an easy way to emigrate. Refugees enjoy fewer rights in the host country than immigrants do, while refugees in most countries are prohibited from working or living where they choose to. They may not cross borders and also lose their refugee status if they voluntarily return to their home country.

The host country also retains the right to decide at any time that the danger in the country of origin has passed and to order the refugee to return home. It is therefore a status