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About Migrant Action Trust |
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Vision/Mission/Objectives
Vision
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The vision of Migrant Action Trust is to see an enriched New Zealand through migrants supporting migrants achieve their aspirations of a better life.
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Mission
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- To support migrants from their arrival to employment, and from assimilation to integration.
- To promote migrants and refugees as valuable stakeholders in New Zealand society.
- To inform migrants of their roles and responsibilities as residents of New Zealand.
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Goals
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- To be a lead national agency that supports migrants and refugees to obtain meaningful employment and develop life skills.
- To be a resource centre of expertise and information for migrants and refugees and to have influence on policy with regard to issues of employment and integration.
- To enable migrant community groups to sustainably meet the needs of their communities.
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Objectives
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- To encourage migrants to help other migrants.
- To encourage self-help towards economic productivity and being a part of the New Zealand community.
- To develop programmes and/or cooperate with other groups to assist in the settlement of migrants and refugees.
- To provide an understanding of living in New Zealand and the Treaty of Waitangi’s relationship with migrantsTo promote participation in the democratic processes of New Zealand especially in issues directly affecting migrants.
- To promote the contributions of migrants and refugees to New Zealand’s social, political and economic life.
- To develop and build on the life skills of migrants.
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Core Values
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- Appreciate New Zealand and what it stands forHave a genuine. interest in migrant and refugee issues.
- Deliver services of a high standard in relationship building and. information dissemination.
- Are goal directed.
- Act when it’s neededAre migrants and refugees who can relate to others in similar situations.
- Believe in the development of skills and potential.
- Respect all cultures and believe in equal opportunities for all.
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History
13 March 2002
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The first meeting of the people involved in setting up the Migrant Action Trust. Initial discussions centred on organising an immigrant social event where migrants from North Asia, South East Asia and South Asia would be invited. The event was intended to be the catalyst to forming an interest group which would serve as the voice of migrants in New Zealand. Although this event never eventuated due to lack of funding, the meeting itself did lay the groundwork for the eventual creation of MAT. |
14 June 2002
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A meeting was held, facilitated by Alice Lacaba and attended by Birgit Grafarend–Watungwa, Sherry Lifeng Huang, Douglas McKay, Noli Lacaba, Richard Barter, Lydia Ducaiova, Agnes Granada, Jaromir Pistora and Whaleng Quek.
It was Alice who suggested starting a migrant-initiated non-profit organisation primarily addressing migrants’ settlement issues and challenges. Alice’s idea provided direction for the meetings that were held in the rest of 2002. Most of these meetings were held in the premises of Tearfund.
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15 January 2003
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Migrant Action Trust (MAT) was incorporated under Charitable Trust Act of 1957 (registration number AK/1268650). The original board members were Harry Singh (Chairperson), Richard Barter (Secretary), Agnes Granada (Treasurer), Noli Lacaba (Trustee) and Natalia Maz (Trustee). |
2004
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Tearfund provided an office space within their premises which allowed MAT to have a face in the community of Auckland. |
July 2006
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Work and Income awarded MAT a 3-year grant to run the DOOR4Migrants programme. The programme showcased two of MAT’s primary services – namely, employment enhancement and the Micro-Enterprises’ Development (MED) – and allowed MAT to address key issues/concerns of migrants that were not being adequately addressed by institutional services at the time. |
2006-2009
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MAT advocated and petitioned on behalf of migrants who were affected by the government’s unfair work-to-residence policy. Migrants with work-to-residence visas only had 6 months to find jobs related to their professional fields despite the Labour government of the time advising on its own website that it may actually take more than 6 months. This was changed to 9 months in 2007. A petition was also filed with the government in 2007 to give holders of temporary work visas holders who had lost their jobs more time to find work. The petition, which took more than a year to process, was unsuccessful. |
At present
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MAT originally functioned with only one staff member for a number of years, supported by 40 plus on-call volunteers. Today, MAT employs six staff and has access to many volunteers who are willing to share their skills and talents to make a difference in the migrant community. |
The Team
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Agnes Granada
Trust Manager
A volunteer for Migrant Action Trust since 2002, Agnes, who hails from the Philippines, prefers to be called Granada. Her interest in the migrant community dates back to 1990. Starting off as Association Accountant for the non-profit Auckland University Student Association, she has held positions in various non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Currently she is on the boards of the Sukhmani Charitable Trust, Tahanang Pilipino Aoteaora Trust and Mt Roskill Business and Community Groups Association.
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Honey Rasalan
Funding/Project Coordinator
Starting off as a volunteer, Honey was employed by MAT after a month to handle the role of fund raising for MAT. She has a bachelor’s degree in Development Communication from the Philippines and over 8 years hands-on experience in community development. She is presently working on her Masters in Adult Literacy and Numeracy at Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
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Tatsuo Nishimura
Researcher/Project Coordinator
Tatsuo is originally from Japan and brings to MAT his 15 years’ experience in market research and research design and implementation. He has MA and BA degrees in Literature from Japan and a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Human Services) from Auckland University of Technology (AUT). Using the power of networking, Tatsuo was introduced to MAT by his lecturer at AUT and served MAT as a volunteer for 6 months before taking up his current position as Researcher/Project Coordinator.
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Jane Mueke
Community Development Worker
Jane, who is originally from Kenya, was introduced to MAT through jobsearch at her local library. She served as a volunteer for MAT for 4 months during which time she helped conceptualise and design a community social enterprise. Prior to joining MAT, she worked as a Human Resource Executive and has a postgraduate qualification in business administration.
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Harunobu Tsuchimochi
Finance Cordinator
Harunobu prefers to be called Haru and is originally from Japan. He is an accounting graduate with a Graduate Diploma in Commerce from AUT. Like Jane, he was introduced to MAT through jobsearch at his local library and served as a volunteer in MAT for 4 months before becoming Finance Coordinator.
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Evelyn Rivera
Office Coordinator
Being new to New Zealand, Evelyn’s partner strongly recommended MAT as a good place to volunteer and so she did in February 2010. Evelyn brings to the organisation extensive overseas experience in customer care, service and satisfaction.
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Karen Venter
Contractor (Facilitator)
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Olga Bernstein
Contractor (Facilitator)
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