Pacific Solution: From Afghanistan to Aotearoa, a thought provoking documentary screened as part of the DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival hosted at the Academy Cinema, Auckland on September 21, 2005 was a window to reality.
Centered on what is conveniently nullified by political tussles, social apathy and cultural bigotry, the documentary touches upon the challenges faced by the Tampa refugees who sailed ashore with literally no place to call home but New Zealand.
Producer Annie Goldson explains her motivation for creating the documentary, I thought the Tampa Story was so bound up in many world issues such as the broken hiSto ry of Afghanistan, the Taliban and the World Trade Centre that it was a very topical issue to make a documentary about.
Of the 438 refugees rescued at sea by Norwegian freighter, MV Tampa, off the Australian coast in August 2001, 133 are a part and parcel of New Zealand today.
Humanitarianism is woven into the fabric of New Zealand. Some acknowledge it others ignore it. But nothing changes the truth. The Afghans who were left in the middle of nowhere by the Howard government, were welcomed aboard the land of the long white cloud in 2001.
New Zealand is one of only 16 countries worldwide that take a guaranteed quota of refugees annually. This is part of New Zealand being a good international citizen, says a member of RMS Refugee Resettlement, Auckland.
RMS is a non-profit, non-governmental organization concerned with refugee resettlement in New Zealand on three basic levels, namely, service provision, public education and refugee policy. This o rganization draws on the strengths of refugees and helps them build a future in the country. RMS works with the 750 refugees accepted by New Zealand each year through their Refugee Quota programme.
Ms Goldsons documentary takes the viewer down a road less traveled, tracing the footsteps of the Tampa boys, from the persecution of the Taliban to their kiwi haven and the quest of their families to join them.
Indifference towards refugees, stereotypical views about refugee resettlement in New Zealand and misconceptions about refugees being a cost rather than a benefit are not uncommon.
The Tampa Boys are thought to have brought a unique perspective to New Zealand through their own culture and traditions. For example Tampa refugee Abdulqayun Salimi, who arrived four years ago with his wife, child and little else, is today a successful tiler in Christchurch.
The documentary based on a real life scenario created a platform for empathy and cultural open-minde dness.
Author:: Charlotte Lobo
Keywords:: Story
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