A programme to assist foreign nationals in serious hardship has been announced by Foreign Minister Winston Peters, and Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Poto Williams.
The Assistance for Foreign Nationals impacted by COVID-19 Programme will provide temporary, in-kind assistance to eligible people to help meet basic needs such as food and accommodation. No cash payments will be offered. Assistance is transitional and time-limited. The Programme will run for three months from 1 July 2020.
Under the new Programme, assistance may be provided for:
food and household goods required to meet urgent and immediate needs
blankets, hot water bottles and basic clothing to meet urgent and immediate needs
over-the-counter medication to meet urgent and immediate needs
accommodation (including rent, boarding costs and rent arrears)
utilities (electricity, gas). Excludes internet and broadband connection and plans
if required, pre-paid phone cards to enable emergency communication and communication with consulate/embassy
petrol/travel (limited to travel required to shift to new location for employment purposes or to airport to leave New Zealand).
The Programme is worth $37.6 million and will be administered by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and delivered by a community-based NGO. The DIA is currently identifying a suitable provider and an announcement on who that is will be made soon.
To date, assistance has been provided via Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) Groups as part of the emergency response.
Regional CDEM Groups have led the provision of essential assistance to those in need, including foreign nationals as part of New Zealand’s immediate emergency response to COVID-19. This assistance has been in-kind (e.g. food vouchers and food parcels, help to meet the costs of accommodation and utilities, and support to access advisory services such as legal and tenancy).
Information on the number of foreign nationals experiencing serious hardship is very limited. Based on available information, we believe there could be approximately 20,000 individuals experiencing serious hardship, said the ministerial release.
– TIN Bureau