Refugees who come to New Zealand through the Refugee Quota Programme spend 5 weeks at the Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa – Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre in Auckland before being resettled into their own homes.

Born to refugee parents displaced by the Iran-Iraq war, Shahen Khosrawi knows the hardship and difficulties faced by people seeking a new, safe home.

She now works alongside 8 other resettlement case officers looking after the needs of refugee families and individuals who arrive in Aotearoa.

“My parents did everything they could”

Shahen’s earliest memories are not of “the greenery and blue ocean views” of West Auckland that impressed her when she and her family first arrived in New Zealand 18 years ago. She still vividly remembers the tent that she once called home in Ruwaished refugee camp in the Kingdom of Jordan and hardship she and her family endured.

Ruwaished was not Shahen’s first refugee camp, “Being a refugee was all I knew, it seemed normal to me at the time,” says Shahen.

Her grandparents were forced to leave Kurdistan in the Northwest of Iran during the Iran-Iraq war, and she was born in an Iraqi refugee camp to refugee parents.

“Life there was tough, but my parents did everything they could to make it as normal as possible for us,” she says.

Things got even tougher when instability in Iraq forced the family to seek refuge in Jordan where they lived in ‘No man’s land’ before moving into the tented camp.

“Those were the hardest years of my childhood,” says Shahen. “I remember trading UN provided personal care items, such as shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, for diesel from truck drivers crossing the border.

“We had enough fuel for cooking but not for heating and winters were hard to survive.”

A new normal 

For Shahen and her family, hearing that they were to be resettled in Aotearoa was better than winning the lottery.

“We were all overwhelmed with joy because we would not have to experience the harsh cold or extreme heat anymore,” says Shahen. “I knew that my father would finally receive the healthcare he needed, too.”

However, starting their lives in a new country was not always easy, especially for her parents who struggled with loss of social connection and the new language.

The family is very grateful to the community volunteers who helped them navigate the day-to-day admin of school enrolment and doctors’ appointments.

“They were incredibly supportive,” says Shahen. “Our home was fully set up, and with eight of us under 18 at the time, the number of toys made the house feel like Disneyland!”

“I see their excitement and hope”

Shahen’s refugee journey has now come full circle as her job as a resettlement case officer with INZ means that she is able to pay some of the kindness she and her family received forward.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in public health and psychology, Shahen wanted to use her experience and skills to help others.

“My family’s refugee journey has profoundly shaped my values and character,” she says.

She is responsible with helping to ensure a successful transition for refugees arriving at the centre and assist them in becoming self-sufficient and integrated into life in Aotearoa.

“My favourite part of the job is being able to play a role in the different stages of the journey for the families I am assigned to,” says Shaheen. “I interview the families before they arrive and then seeing their excitement and hope when they get here is the most satisfying feeling.”

For Shahen, having empathy with the families she helps means she understands the emotional impact of their experience.

“I can anticipate uncertainties, doubts, or anxiety and refocus them on their future, which is critical for rebuilding a new life.”

General Manager Refugee and Migrant services Fiona Whiteridge says people like Shahen play a vital role in welcoming refugees to New Zealand.

“Our vision for former refugees and their families is that they should not only settle successfully, but also achieve their goals and thrive in Aotearoa,” Fiona says.

“Resettlement case officers play a huge part in making this happen.”

New Zealand has resettled nearly 800 women, men and children from Jordan since 1991, including 239 this year, 2024.

Read more about Shahen’s story on the UNHCR – Jordan website

Beyond borders: how a refugee’s resettlement became her mission — UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency

More information about Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa – Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre.

Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa – Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre