28707 (2025). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister of Immigration

28707 (2025). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister of Immigration: What advice or recommendations, if any, has the Minister received regarding the expected impact of the reduction in the Settlement and Integration of Refugees and Other Migrants appropriation on service delivery outcomes?

Hon Erica Stanford: The 2025/26 appropriation of $85.697m reflects a $2.541m reduction from the appropriation of $88.238m in 2024/25. The reduction is primarily due to conclusion of the initiative to resettle Afghan nationals in New Zealand ($1.8m) and the Interpreter Development Fund ($0.255m), and the impacts from transferring accountability and appropriations for two immigration programmes to other agencies. These programmes include the Refugee Driver Training Programme, which was transferred to the Ministry of Social Development ($0.856m in 2025/26) and the Language Assistance Services Programme, which was transferred to the Ministry of Ethnic Communities ($0.325m in 2025/26). As the funding decrease relates to initiatives that have ended or been transferred to other agencies, I have not received advice on the impact on service delivery outcomes.