Issue 55 November 2021

This newsletter comes shortly after the October newsletter, owing to important information to share on a number of issues.

Language Assistance Services Programme: update

You will now need to sign up with one or more of the community language providers in order to continue to work for the New Zealand Government. Please shop around and find the provider or providers which offer the best deal for you. You can sign up with more than one provider. You are welcome to let me know which providers you have signed up with.

Are you receiving the Language Assistance Services Monthly Newsletter? To subscribe email LAS@mbie.govt.nz with the subject ‘Subscribe’.

The latest newsletter includes a lot of important information about the Ezispeak telephone interpreting services, new interpreter booking service, as well as updates on other parts of the programme. Please be sure to read it.

Invitation to interpreter meeting

I would like to invite you to an interpreters’ meeting on Tuesday 7 December 2021 from 2pm to 3pm on MS Teams. This will be a good time to discuss how the year and the lockdown has been for you, answer any questions (as far as we are able) on the Language Assistance Services Project, and wish you all the very best for the festive season. There is no need to RSVP for this meeting.

Tuesday 7 December 2021 interpreters' meeting(external link)

Update from the Refugee Status Unit

We are continuing to work from home. We are now doing more interviews remotely, using either Microsoft Teams or Zoom. We are starting to rebook the face to face interviews which were cancelled during lockdown. Most of the rescheduled interviews will be rebooked from February 2022 on.

All phone calls and emails are being answered as normal.

All of New Zealand will be moving into the new prevention framework next week.

Update from the Refugee Quota Programme

Protocols for any interpreters working onsite at MRRC

While MRRC is closed and limiting the number of staff on site, there has been a need to have a small number of interpreters on site to help out with work on a recent remote Malaysia Mission. Having interpreters on site for future remote missions could be phased out. However, in the event that we do require interpreters to work onsite at MRRC there are protocols in place that should be observed and most interpreters are now doing this as follows:

Before coming onsite, please:

Check-in with yourself

Do not come to work if you are unwell! If you develop any of the following symptoms call Healthline (0800 611 116) or your doctor and follow their instructions.

• Coughing and/or sneezing
• Runny nose
• Sore throat or raspy throat
• Feel very hot or very cold and/or shivering
• Headache or muscle pains
• Feel unwell generally e.g. feeling light-headed or nauseous

Check-in with your family and community

Do any of your bubble have the above symptoms or you or any of your family been to places of interest?

Check your PPE and tracing app

Do you have a face mask and have you turned on Bluetooth scanning on the covid tracer app?

Entering the Mangere Refugee and Resettlement Centre (MRRC)

Please observe speed limit on shared driveway to the gate house.

On arrival all persons entering MRRC are asked the following questions:

• Do you have, or have you had in the last 2 days, any covid-19 symptoms:
• Is anyone in your household unwell or has been unwell in the last 2 days?
• Have you been in close or casual contact with a person with suspected, probable or confirmed coronavirus in the 14 days?
• Have you been in a location of interest?

Please park in the visitor car parking and wait in your vehicle.

Entering the INZ Office

• The centre is in lockdown and not operating as it did pre-covid.
• Please do not approach reception or walk around the centre.
• Stay in your vehicle on arrival.
• Call your interviewing officer or interpreter coordinator Harneet Kaur to advise of your arrival.
• Make sure your mask is on.
• Wait for the interviewing officer to come to your car and escort you into the building.
• Remember to scan-in using the covid tracer app, there is a QR code by the door on entry to the INZ office.
• Use hand sanitisers when moving around the building.
• Maintain social distancing of 2 metres.
• Once you have finished your interview please return directly to your vehicle for departure.

The above process not likely to change too much under the new prevention framework at RED as working from home is still encouraged.

Verification of bank accounts

MBIE Finance are looking at verifying bank account details to safeguard our contractors, including interpreters. This is because of the rise in bank account and other electronic fraud since we went into lock down.

What does this mean for our interpreters?

Currently our finance folk are still paying interpreters but also asking them to verify their bank accounts when they send in a claim form. This will mean all interpreters including those who have been with us for some time will need to provide fresh evidence of their bank accounts.

Introducing new Refugee and Protection Officers at RSU

Raewyn Tretheway

My name is Raewyn Tretheway. I commenced working as a Refugee and Protection Officer on 5 July 2021.

I am originally from a small town near Hamilton (Waikato). I have also lived in Dunedin, Blenheim, Wellington, Gisborne, Auckland and overseas Canada (3 years), Solomon Islands (1 year) and Bougainville (6 years). I have degrees in Psychology (up to a PhD level), LLB, and Human Rights and am now studying Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Investigations. I have worked in the following fields: Human Rights, Law and Justice Sector (Overseas), Health and Mental Health, Department of Corrections, NZ Police, Community Law Centres and more recently in the Family Court (mainly parenting and protection orders).

I like travelling (when possible), reading, learning and spending time with my family, friends and with my 2 pets Bear (dog) and Tiger (cat).

Basia Mackenzie

Kia Ora everyone! My name is Basia Mackenzie. 

I have come full circle with this new role as an RPO because refugee determination is where I started my working life about 20 years ago. My first job after graduating with a law degree was working as a Legal Associate for the RSAA (now the IPT). After a couple of years of legal and country research, I joined the RSB as a RSO and became a Team Leader. I left to work for the UNHCR in Thailand, determining mainly a Burmese caseload. Since then I have worked in various roles overseas, all of which had a common human rights and country research thread.

My family and I coincidentally returned to New Zealand just before COVID-19 hit which we were all retrospectively very grateful for. It’s great to be back here.  It has been wonderful to see how the RSU has gone from strength to strength over the intervening years. The work is as interesting as it ever was – a constant opportunity to learn about what is going on around the world while helping refugees move on with their lives. I’m also excited about getting back into some of New Zealand’s wonderful tramping, kayaking and gorgeous foodie experiences, (when Covid allows)!

Remote interview tip

The RSU is conducting interviews remotely via MS Teams or Zoom while the country is in different lockdown alert levels/traffic lights.  If you are booked for these kind of interviews please make sure you use your formal name.

How to change your name on MS Teams

1. Open your browser and visit the Microsoft Account page. 
2. Sign in with the account you use in Microsoft Teams. 
3. Click Your Info at the top. 
4. On the account page, click Edit name. 
5. Enter a new name and click Save. 
6. On Microsoft Teams, sign out and sign back in. 

New home for interpreter reference resources

Interpreters have their own resource page which has many useful tools, such as immigration and refugee related terminology.

Interpreters online toolkit

Glossaries

Refugee and protection claims based on a person’s religion or beliefs are common. The terms used by some religious groups can be unfamiliar, or carry a special meaning.

To help with your preparation for these types of interviews we have added some new glossaries to the Interpreters online toolkit page. These glossaries include Falun Gong and Church of Almighty God which is specifically for interpreters of Chinese languages.

If you feel there are any other areas that would benefit from a glossary being created please let us know. 

Interpreters online toolkit

On the same page, under ‘Further self-study’, you can find feedback from our interpreter dilemma training.