Population figures
Total country population
5,269,938
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
1,885
Asylum-seekers:
2,674
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
101
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
126
Country context
New Zealand, situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, is an island nation comprising two main Islands (the North and South Islands). It shares maritime borders with Australia to the west and the Pacific Island nations to the north and east. New Zealand is a resettlement country with a consistent number of refugees referred by UNHCR. The refugees and asylum seekers it host are primarily from Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific and South America.
The international legal framework for forced displacement is incorporated through New Zealand’s ratification of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, effected via the Immigration and Protection Act 2009, which establishes a comprehensive statutory regime for refugee and protection status determinations. Part 5 of that Act provides for individual claims under the Refugee Convention, recognition of persons selected abroad, contextual decision-making, and an appeals process before the Immigration and Protection Tribunal. Procedural safeguards include notification of decisions, the right to submit evidence, and access to legal advice at no cost.
...Persons arriving under international protection grounds originate predominantly from regions of Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific and Latin America; after initial reception they reside within urban and peri-urban communities—particularly in centres such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Community-based accommodation and integration programmes facilitate access to education, vocational training and employment opportunities.
Statelessness prevention and reduction are addressed through the Citizenship Act 1977, which grants citizenship by descent to children with at least one New Zealand citizen parent and provides for registration of those born abroad. The Act permits dual citizenship and includes special-case grants—such as for foundlings and individuals born on New Zealand-registered vessels—thereby aligning with obligations under the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Gaps remain in formalized statelessness status-determination procedures, as there is no standalone statutory mechanism to identify and protect persons who may be stateless despite holding valid residence.
A notable legal advancement has been the consolidation of asylum and protection processes within the Immigration and Protection Act 2009, replacing prior provisions under the Immigration Act 1987 and related regulations. This reform introduced clear criteria for recognition of refugees and persons in need of complementary protection, judicial review of administrative decisions, and harmonization of procedural standards. More recently, regulatory amendments have clarified procedural timelines and strengthened safeguards against refoulement.
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