Becoming an Approved Sponsor is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of refugees while strengthening your local community.
Approved Sponsor organisations are committed to supporting people from diverse backgrounds with care, respect, and compassion. They value inclusion, embrace cultural and religious diversity, and are willing to learn and grow throughout the sponsorship journey.
If this sounds like your organisation, you're in the right place. We are delighted you are considering becoming an Approved Sponsor and welcoming refugees into your community.
We hope the information on this website gives you everything you need to make an informed decision and feel confident about the journey ahead.
Contact the HOST team for any questions your group might have.
Qualities of an Approved Sponsor Group
Successful sponsor groups bring together people who are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for refugees as they begin their new lives in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Approved Sponsor Groups are encouraged to:
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Embrace cultural learning by developing the cultural knowledge and awareness needed to support people from diverse backgrounds.
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Share a genuine commitment to helping refugees settle well and build meaningful, independent lives within their new communities.
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Be resilient and adaptable, recognising that every sponsorship journey is unique and may require flexibility and creative problem-solving.
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Build respectful relationships with tangata whenua, engaging early and embracing opportunities to learn from and reciprocate the support and guidance offered.
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Understand their safeguarding responsibilities, including child protection, privacy, and the importance of creating safe and respectful environments for everyone.
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Work collaboratively, communicating openly, supporting one another, and working constructively with refugees, HOST, Immigration New Zealand, and local service providers.
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Demonstrate empathy and emotional intelligence, with a willingness to listen, reflect, learn, and grow throughout the sponsorship journey.
Criteria for an Approved Sponsor Group
Check the following criteria for the Community Refugee Sponsorship programme to help you decide if you want to apply. The team at HOST International Aotearoa (HOST) is available to discuss further.
To become an Approved Community Organisation, Immigration New Zealand must be satisfied that the Community Organisation:
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Is a legal entity (such as incorporated society, registered company, charitable trust or religious organisation with legal standing)
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Has the financial resources to provide settlement services to sponsored mandated refugees, including any associated partners and dependent children for two years
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Has experience working successfully with refugees or other vulnerable people
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Has capability and capacity to secure suitable accommodation (this may include acceptable boarding or flatting arrangements) at short notice,
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Support mandated refugees and associated partners to enter the labour market and secure meaningful and sustainable employment
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Can enter into a Deed of Agreement for Services for the provision of settlement services to the agreed standard
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Will not create unacceptable risks to the integrity of New Zealand’s immigration laws or policies
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Is able to demonstrate community outreach and connections within the broader community
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Has at least five core members who will be part of the settlement team
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Has ensured all 5 core members will be working with the refugee/refugee family are fully vetted by the NZ Police (to support working with children and vulnerable adults and that they are suitable and of good character)
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Has ensured all 5 core members have completed child protection training, for example: ‘Fundamentals of Child Protection’ administered by Safeguarding Children
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Has developed a Child Protection Policy (these are policies and procedures for managing risk).
Evidence of meeting the above criteria must be submitted with your application.
Responsibilities of an Approved Sponsor Group
Settlement
Approved Sponsors must help refugees settle in from the day they arrive and continue supporting them for up to two (2) years after arrival in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Funds
Your organisation must have enough money to support refugee individuals and/or whānau (families) when they arrive. Although individuals and families in this programme are permanent New Zealand residents and can apply for Work and Income support, you should think about how you will cover additional expenses.
A budget template is available on the Application Documents page to help you consider relevant costs.
Accommodation
Your organisation must find suitable accommodation for the sponsored refugee family before they get to Aotearoa New Zealand. Your group will need to pay the initial costs (i.e. bond and rent to start with) but not rent for the full sponsorship period. Your group must also make sure the home has basic furniture and household items when they arrive.
Networks
Approved Sponsors must have the networks and connections across the community to support refugees to live fulfilling and meaningful lives in Aotearoa New Zealand. Your group need to connect refugees to te ao Māori and the history of the whenua. This is an important part of cultivating shared cultural understanding.
Orientation
Approved Sponsors must design an appropriate orientation programme for sponsored refugees to help them understand and adjust to life in Aotearoa New Zealand.