One in six Tauranga people born overseas | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

One in every six people who live in Tauranga was born overseas, a study into immigration reveals.

Brigid Ryan, of Family and Community Services, was unveiling background material used in the preparation of a report to be released on April 16.

She gave a brief overview yesterday to the Tauranga City Council as part of the lead-up to the report, which will deal with issues affecting immigrants who settle in Tauranga and the rest of the Western Bay.

Ms Ryan disclosed plans to employ a Tauranga regional multicultural co-ordinator - the funding would not come from the council.

She said a third of the 17 per cent of Tauranga residents born overseas were now aged 60 and over.

A lot came from the United Kingdom and Ireland, with increasing numbers now coming from Asia.

And just because many arrived already speaking English, it did not mean that migrating was easy for them, she said.

Almost half of those born overseas had lived in the area for less than 10 years, with 37 per cent here for 30 years or more.

The focus of the report would be homes, family, women and children and those who felt isolated by language difficulties.

Ms Ryan said it had been quite a task accessing these people. Thirty-one focus groups involving more than 250 people aged from 13 to 59 years old had contributed to the report, with participants from more than 40 countries.

"It's an indication of how our community has changed."

The Bay of Plenty Chinese Cultural Society was launched in January, joining a Bay of Plenty Chinese language school.

English language classes were being developed in Te Puke for Indians and Koreans, particularly women.

An ethnic soccer tournament was planned to be run in the Bay this year, ethnic playgroups were being established and plans were underway for a race relations day to celebrate Tauranga's diversity.

The report will outline ways to support ethnic communities into the future by the easier provision of services and the distribution of information to immigrants.

 

See our feature story - Indian family enjoy Bay lifestyle