ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Here in New Zealand, let’s not allow these crimes to have the secondary effect of restricting our freedom, deterring us from our normal lives, or threatening our values as an open society. We must also guard against any backlash against Muslims in New Zealand. Our Muslim community is hardworking, peace-loving and law-abiding, with strong family values. They contribute so much to the fabric of our nation.
It is inevitable and sad that the crimes in Paris—the violent actions of a few—will make it harder for the many refugees who are seeking safety in Europe. These refugees are fleeing from exactly the same thing, the brutality that we saw in Paris.
In September, New Zealand agreed to receive 600 Syrian refugees as part of a special intake—an acknowledgement by our government of the international crisis emerging from Syria.
Journalists have been asking me if that was the right thing to do. My answer is yes. What happened in Paris should not change this policy. New Zealand’s refugees will come from the camps surrounding Syria, generally families. They will be thoroughly background-checked by UNHCR and then checked again by our own government officials. We will give them an opportunity and a chance in life they would never have otherwise. It is not the first time New Zealand has responded to refugee crises with compassion and honour, and it probably won’t be the last.
Our facilities can easily cope, and as we’ve seen, refugees can make particularly good citizens. For example, in 2001, under a Labour government, we accepted more than 200 refugees from the Tampa when Australia refused. Those refugees have gone on to become passionate Kiwis, well-educated, employed and contributing to our society.
That is what happens with refugees—they usually end up giving so much more to our country than they ever took.
What happened in Paris last week was a terrible insult and tragedy. But it shouldn’t cause us to live in fear or change the thoughtful decisions we have made as a nation.
Here in New Zealand, let’s not allow these crimes to have the secondary effect of restricting our freedom, deterring us from our normal lives, or threatening our values as an open society. We must also guard against any backlash against Muslims in New Zealand. Our Muslim community is hardworking,...
Here in New Zealand, let’s not allow these crimes to have the secondary effect of restricting our freedom, deterring us from our normal lives, or threatening our values as an open society. We must also guard against any backlash against Muslims in New Zealand. Our Muslim community is hardworking, peace-loving and law-abiding, with strong family values. They contribute so much to the fabric of our nation.
It is inevitable and sad that the crimes in Paris—the violent actions of a few—will make it harder for the many refugees who are seeking safety in Europe. These refugees are fleeing from exactly the same thing, the brutality that we saw in Paris.
In September, New Zealand agreed to receive 600 Syrian refugees as part of a special intake—an acknowledgement by our government of the international crisis emerging from Syria.
Journalists have been asking me if that was the right thing to do. My answer is yes. What happened in Paris should not change this policy. New Zealand’s refugees will come from the camps surrounding Syria, generally families. They will be thoroughly background-checked by UNHCR and then checked again by our own government officials. We will give them an opportunity and a chance in life they would never have otherwise. It is not the first time New Zealand has responded to refugee crises with compassion and honour, and it probably won’t be the last.
Our facilities can easily cope, and as we’ve seen, refugees can make particularly good citizens. For example, in 2001, under a Labour government, we accepted more than 200 refugees from the Tampa when Australia refused. Those refugees have gone on to become passionate Kiwis, well-educated, employed and contributing to our society.
That is what happens with refugees—they usually end up giving so much more to our country than they ever took.
What happened in Paris last week was a terrible insult and tragedy. But it shouldn’t cause us to live in fear or change the thoughtful decisions we have made as a nation.
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