Home > Our Publications > New Zealand Outlook > 2002 > March

REFUGEES and asylum-seekers cost taxpayers more than $34 million in their first year on New Zealand soil and incur ongoing costs in benefits, heath and education, Government estimates show.
The estimates were issued as the Government discusses plans to increase refugees numbers by 250 a year - meaning the total numbers of refugees and their family members would be about 1600.
An increased quota would bump up the bill by more than $5.2 million, taking it to nearly $40 million in the first year.
The dollar figures have raised the heat in the immigration debate.
Major political parties ACT NZ, National and NZ First have raised concerns about security and crime caused by letting in more refugees, with ACT leader Richard Prebble saying racial brawls in Auckland are the legacy of serious problems in policy.
The average refugee flown to New Zealand under the United Nations approved quota of 750 people a year costs $20,974 in the first year. That comes out of the budgets for the Immigration Service - which includes airfares - the Social Development Ministry, health and education.
The average asylum seeker of which there are about 1500 a year - costs $12,427 until a decision is made whether they get refugee status, and then ongoing costs like other refugees.
A quota allowing refugees to bring in 250 family members in total comes into force in July, but the costs have not been fully calculated and are partly included in the quota refugee figures.
Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel said the refugee quota increase would not take place until she was confident resettlement processes were working smoothly and were adequately funded.
The costs were seen as New Zealand's humanitarian contribution to what was an international refugee programme of overwhelming proportions, she said.
Mr Prebble has said unsuccessful asylum seekers should be sent home, and a more realistic policy could help refugees without enormous cost.

.